If you know anything about the venerable space-band Hawkwind, you know that
the late Robert Calvert was their charismatic frontman and lyricist. And if you
know the names Dave Brock, Nik Turner, Lemmy Kilminster, Del Dettmar, Simon
King, Paul Rudolph, Vivian Stanshall, Brian Eno, Arthur Brown and Jim Capaldi -
then you know that all the key members of Hawkwind - along with a few notable
guests - are on this record. So think of it as a great album that Hawkwind never
made.
More or less every second track is music, and every other track is vocal - a
Zappa-esque / Python-esque skit that takes its inspiration from a
scandal in Germany in the 1950s. The German government purchased some 700 new
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter jets,, and had them so heavily modified that they
killed many Luftwaffe pilots - who quickly dubbed the plane the 'Widowmaker', or
the 'Flying Coffin'. Calvert's satirical version of this story has the German
airforce demanding an improved air capability, testing it, negotiating the
purchase, a couple of idiot mechanics who know nothing about the planes, and so
on. Very typical of English satirical dark wit. A concept album with a
difference.
But the humor can only be played so many times before it gets old - so if you
program your iPod to play just the musical tracks, it's interesting as a 40-plus
minute Cantebury-era piece with clean vocals in a clear, well enunciated style,
psychedelic
bluesy acid-rock instrumentation with heavy bass and pronounced guitar licks,
often veering off into a Floydian spacey vibe.
"The Aerospace Inferno" is a standout, a mildly heavy piece with psychedelic
guitars wailing over a deep groove. and clear singing ... Set your controls
for the heart of the earth... (Sound familiar?) "Catch a Falling Starfighter"
was released as the B-side on a single - a slow piece, irony-laden and sad, very
simple but very catchy.
Originally released in 1974, this Eclectic Discs reissue was remastered from
the original master tapes and features fully restored artwork. It includes three
bonus tracks including a previously unreleased extended version of "The Right
Stuff".
This isn't music to be takes seriously. Treat it as a fun diversion, and
appreciate the musicianship as a bonus.
Track Listing:
1. Franz Josef Strauß, Defence Minister, reviews the Luftwaffe in 1958
2. The Aerospace Inferno
3. Aircraft Salesman (A Door in the Foot)
4. The Widow Maker (Dave Brock, Calvert)
5. Two test pilots discuss the Starfighter's performance
6. The Right Stuff
7. Board meeting (seen through a contract lense)
8. The Song of the Gremlin (part one) (Arthur Brown, Calvert, Wagner)
9. Ground Crew (last minute reassembly before take off)
10.Hero with a Wing
11.Ground Control to Pilot
12.Ejection
13.Interview
14.I Resign
15.The Song of the Gremlin (part two) (Brown, Calvert, Wagner)
16.Bier Garten
17.Catch a Falling Starfighter
Bonus Tracks:
18.The Right Stuff (full version) (Recorded at Olympic Studios in October
1973 - Previously unreleased)
19.Ejection (single version)
20.Catch a Falling Starfighter (single version)
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
