Spacehawks is the upteenth
Hawkwind collection. It has been assembled by Four Worlds with a strong bent toward the North American marketplace. That said, it's far from just a retread of old warhorses; there are some welcome -- perhaps even revelatory -- surprises (at least musically) for the seasoned fan as well as the newcomer. A case in point is "Where Are They Now?" This cut had been buried inside the band's catalog for decades before it was reactivated in 2003. It comes roaring out the back end of the pairing of "Sonic Assault" and "The Golden Void," and becomes a kind of closing anthemic encore to what here appears to be nearly a suite. Elsewhere, "We Took the Wrong Step Long Ago" perhaps eclipses -- at least energetically and atmospherically -- the version that originally appeared on
In Search of Space. Heresy? Nah, it's a completely different animal now, not a protest song but a righteous elegy. Other highlights include another version of It's All Lies" from the
Hawkwind Light Orchestra offering, "Sunship," and, hearkening back to
Warrior on the Edge of Time, a devilishly fine reading of "The Demented Man." Recommended.