More classic Hawkwind from nineteen seventy two. Studio work gets a polish along with a live show from the era.

Release Date: 8th November 2024

Label:  Atomhenge / Cherry Red Records

Format: 3CD+2Bluray / vinyl / DL / 2CD

Hawkwind remastering guru Stephen W Taylor is back on the case with the original ’72 mix remastered, plus a new stereo remix the result of his latest venture.

space ritual in waiting

An album recorded at Rockfield and Olympic Studios in September and October 1972, the legendary album followed in the aftermath of the unanticipated the success of the band’s hit single Silver Machine. Noteworthy for being their first to feature Lemmy Kilmister on bass & vocals and Simon King on drums, Doremi Fasol Latido in hindsight contains a handful of classic tracks such as Brainstorm, Space Is Deep, Down Through The Night and Time We Left This World Today A UK Top 20 album upon its release in November 1972, the reboot offers a number of options to suit the various pockets of the fanbase that ranges from the deep to the vaguely interested.

The sonic boundaries getting reshapen from the dense and occasionally oppressive ambience. The sense of improvisation and creation is as strong as ever as they declare themselves “standing on the runway waiting to take off” at the start of Brainstorm. It’s a devastating tour de force, including that semi-orgasmic Robert Plant panting within the first couple of minutes; a breathless opening that burns a pathway for the rest to follow, all swooshes, swirls and pastoral comedowns and all given a fresh view.

The acoustic meanderings see the simple riff to Down Through The Night embellished with celestial atmospheres that have new clarity. The Watcher of course has become a staple. It sounds strangely low key back in its original state – maybe Dave Brock was till in busking mode at the time! Singing off with the quirks of Time We Left This World, there’s the bonus of some live/German/B-side single material. The (controversial) Urban Guerrilla/Brainbox Pollution fitting very neatly.

greasy truckers

One step up the is a stunning new mix of Hawkwind’s performance at the Greasy Truckers Party at the Roundhouse on 13th February 1972 with Man and Brinsley Schwartz also on the bill. Previously available in various territories and formats, This Is Your Captain Speaking sets the tone, a throbbing You Shouldn’t Do That follows and it’s a pretty intense set. Masters Of The Universe and Born To Go provide relentless centrepieces and ‘the hit’ makes an obvious appearance. A Dylanesque sneer crops up at a couple of points as every ounce is wrung out of the their gateway song.Ending with almost ten minutes of Brainstorm Jam

Anyone with the pockets big enough to withstand the onslaught of new versions can go big with the set that includes two region-free Blu-Ray discs which feature Stephen W Tayler’s stunning new 5.1 Surround Sound mixes and bonus tracks and the complete live GREASY TRUCKERS PARTY performance. An additional bonus feature is the 1973 promotional film of Urban Guerrilla. Add the 68-page illustrated book with new essay and a reproduction poster initially included with the first pressing of album in November 1972 and the box set becomes the definitive release of this legendary album.

With the Space Ritual live shows about to launch, Doremi Fasol Latido proves a key album in the bigger picture of the Hawkwind story.

Here’s an unboxing of the album to get excited about:

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