In search of space

Description

Hawkwind was formed in London in 1968, at the end of the experimental acid period, when Pink Floyd was coming down from the scaffolding where they performed their concerts and was preparing to take the rest of Europe and America aboard their comfortable interstellar vessel. At the same time, similar spasms were occurring in Germany, where Bavaria saw strange aircraft flying overhead, piloted by a group with the bizarre name Amon Düül, which had not yet split into two. The English band led by Dave Brock (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Nick Turner (flute, sax, vocals), whose name comes from a short story by science fiction author Michael Moorcock, recorded a first, unremarkable album in 1969. In 1971, bassist Dave Anderson left Amon Düül 2 (of which he co-authored "Phallus dei" and "Yeti"!) and joined Hawkwind. "In Search of Space" marked this arrival. Combining the combined inspirations of Pink Floyd (the spatial dimension, the Moog, electro-acoustic delirium, the vocals in the calm parts), Amon Düül 2 (the incantatory rhythms, unbridled improvisation), Can (the free explosion, the dislocation of sounds), and Black Sabbath (the hypnotic and primal pounding), "In Search of Space" is a foundational masterpiece, one of the cornerstones of what will be called "space rock." All the lyrics focus on intergalactic journeys to imaginary lands, and the vinyl included a complete book on the subject, the "Hawkwind log," featuring astrological and mystical texts, adorned with numerous mantras, which unfortunately was not included in the CD reissue.