A Psychedelic selection from Hawkwind? Cherry Red continue to serve Brock & Co well.

PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE

A mix of Hawkwind past, present and future showcases a dynamic and ever-shifting journey through Hawkwind’s space rocking cosmos. It marks as both an entry point for new listeners (for there still may be some embarking on the trip) and an essential addition for long-time fans on which to ponder, reaffirming the band’s status as pioneers of space rock and sonic exploration.

An thought provoking set, Psychedelic Selection forges new studio material and unheard archive recordings with reworked classics and live-in-studio performances. Plus there’s the final Huw Lloyd-Langton recording with a (even more than usual) sprightly Hurry On Sundown that opened up that very first, recently rebooted, album, marking his final recording in a fitting tribute to an important part of the band’s story.

A band set to rival Fairport Convention on the ATB pages, the Psychedelic Selection presents “a snapshot of Hawkwind in motion in multiple facets of the band’s creative output, from cosmic psychedelia to driving space rock and experimental electronica.” Amen to that.

HOPE YOU LIKE THE NEW DIRECTION

Opening with two new compositions, Four Legs Good, Two Legs Bad and There Are Fairies In The Garden, the album offers a glimpse into a forthcoming Hawkwind project. Possibly/probably inspired by Brock musing on his beloved dogs and gardening, the sound of pigs grunting and bees buzzing spans across the relatively unsophisticated stereo spectrum offered by the PC, a shimmering ambience dominates the noodling direction of the latter. A hint of improv even, though not out of the question, the ‘let’s see where this might go’ philosophy, is most soothing.

The Judge And The Fisherman and Goonhilly Downs find the current line-up taking off in full flight, delivering brand new material rooted, naturally, in the band’s signature sound and immersive soundscapes. The former has a hint of bouncy Mott plus some cartoon inspired soundbites – think Wacky Races – and the latter a more standard bass led, driving tempo, all whizzes, whooshes and zaps included for the price of entry.

The new take on relaxed mood of The Demented Man, tripping in from The Edge Of Time (Warrior On…), reinforces the sparkle of Sundown with a fragrant clarity. Like the clearing of a murky glass, the slide guitar breaks through and we’re fully abroad the mind altering zone.

just a traveller…

Psychedelic Selection also revisits key moments from Hawkwind’s past with fresh perspective. The Demented Man and the hazy Those Days Of The Underground are reimagined for the present day,. The former refreshed into a nostalgic haze – cue wobbly time travel visuals as Dave ponders “The heroes we were then – we made quite a stir then with our sonic attack.” The relaxed vibe of Traveller Of Space (as signature as any of the collection of Hawkwind anthems) that floats on an air of the inevitability of life (and beyond) revisits the 2024 album’s timely reminder that only one thing in life is certain. It might be one of those pieces that we might all consider accompanying us on our final journey. A sobering thought, but what a piece of music. Hawkwind’s Champagne Supernova.

Before becoming too maudlin, switch to the power of PSI Power presented in powerful live-in-the-studio recordings, capturing the immediacy and energy of the band’s recent performances. The album further expands into more exploratory territory with tracks drawn from associated projects. Channelling something from OzricWorld these include Dave Brock’s unreleased Dance And Trance material (Land Of Min, Out Of Luck) and Magnus Martin’s Ocean’s Spiral, adding new dimensions to the Hawkwind sound world.

The band will be playing live across this UK in 2026, and are preparing new material for forthcoming projects in the coming months. 

Live Dates:

Friday 12th June – City Hall, Salisbury

Saturday 13th June – Bristol Beacon

Friday 26th June – Hexagon, Reading

Saturday 27th June – Morvala Festival (Headline), Cornwall 

Friday 7th August – Liverpool M&S Bank Arena (TBC) 

Saturday 8th – Sunday 9th August – Hawkwind Friends & Relations, Morecambe

Saturday 22nd August – A New Day Festival (Headline)

Here’s the Cherry Red promo:

Hawkwind: Website

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