Spirit of the Ageless
Hawkwind (with The Blackheart Orchestra) - 02 Academy, Glasgow, 17th November 2019
Hawkwind (with The Blackheart Orchestra) - 02 Academy, Glasgow, 17th November 2019
While the Blackheart Orchestra (Chrissy Mostyn and Rick Pilkington) are label mates of Hawkwind (new album Mesmeranto was released in October, as was Hawkwind’s All Aboard the Skylark) there was an underlying sense they may not be the best stage mates given they are, stylistically, very different beasts.
Good news then that while those at the rear bar area of Glasgow’s 02 Academy were more interested in discussing favourite Hawkwind moments prior to the arrival of the space-rock icons, the packed throng down the front were attentive and genuinely appreciative of the Blackheart Orchestra's half-hour support set.
Having caught the duo back in September in a much smaller venue there was also the worry for this reviewer about how their ethereal soundscapes would carry in a much larger hall – but through the use of guitars, various keyboard devices, loops and electro percussion the Blackheart Orchestra create a far bigger sound than two musicians on stage would first suggest.
'Hypnotize' (Mike Oldfield meets Kate Bush) carried across the Academy hall on an ethereal sonic wave, only to be bettered by the pulsing and rhythmic 'Drown Me Out' (one of many highlights to be found on Mesmeranto) and percussively driven new age number, 'Sebastian.'
While a large number of the Blackheart Orchestra’s songs sit within a melancholic framework (leading to Chrissy Mostyn’s "right, that’s our two happy songs out of the way" quip) such melancholy is balanced by bright melodies and uplifting melody lines.
Such traits were heard to good effect on the delicate and haunting 'Wolves' and final song of the set, 'Hey Pluto.'
The latter is built, live, by four hands on one keyboard and layered vocal chants that give the impression a choral sextet have just walked on stage to join in.
Good news then that while those at the rear bar area of Glasgow’s 02 Academy were more interested in discussing favourite Hawkwind moments prior to the arrival of the space-rock icons, the packed throng down the front were attentive and genuinely appreciative of the Blackheart Orchestra's half-hour support set.
Having caught the duo back in September in a much smaller venue there was also the worry for this reviewer about how their ethereal soundscapes would carry in a much larger hall – but through the use of guitars, various keyboard devices, loops and electro percussion the Blackheart Orchestra create a far bigger sound than two musicians on stage would first suggest.
'Hypnotize' (Mike Oldfield meets Kate Bush) carried across the Academy hall on an ethereal sonic wave, only to be bettered by the pulsing and rhythmic 'Drown Me Out' (one of many highlights to be found on Mesmeranto) and percussively driven new age number, 'Sebastian.'
While a large number of the Blackheart Orchestra’s songs sit within a melancholic framework (leading to Chrissy Mostyn’s "right, that’s our two happy songs out of the way" quip) such melancholy is balanced by bright melodies and uplifting melody lines.
Such traits were heard to good effect on the delicate and haunting 'Wolves' and final song of the set, 'Hey Pluto.'
The latter is built, live, by four hands on one keyboard and layered vocal chants that give the impression a choral sextet have just walked on stage to join in.
Keytar and Theremin pitchin' maestro Tim Blake
Hawkwind, on their 50th Anniversary tour of the UK, walked out to a rammed 02 Academy and an audience for whom the legendary space-rockers could do no wrong.
And, to be fair, they didn’t put much of a musical foot wrong across the entire ninety minute set, bolstered by lasers and video backdrops that complemented whatever song was front and centre at the time.
Nor did it hurt that the current line-up of ever-present and 78 years young Dave Brock, veteran 'Hawk drummer Richard Chadwick, bassist/ keyboardist Niall Hone and latest recruit, keyboardist and guitarist Magnus Martin (with the band since 2016) were joined on this tour by Hawkwind musical associate Tim Blake.
The band's guest returnee featured on keytar but really came in to his space rocking own when he added his atmospheric and sonically sculptured Theremin pitches.
Opening with the semi-hypnotic rock of 'Motorway City' from perennial fan favourite Levitation guaranteed the crowd were on-side from the get-go and ready to enjoy their helping of 'Flesh Fondue' when it followed in all its space-punk romping glory, complete with trademark jagged Dave Brock vocals and guitar (although not quite as vocally defined as normal; Brock was suffering from a cold and, as he so frankly put it, "old age!")
'Flesh Fondue' was one of five songs to feature in the set from All Aboard the Skylark, a testament to the band’s policy of making it as much about the new as the classic era/ old.
Skylark is also an album that nods to their folk-pop-prog leanings as much as their space-rock, typified by 'Last Man On Earth,' sung by Magnus Martin.
While a good vocal fit for the more melodic or mellow numbers Magnus Martin is not the strongest voiced singer in the world; that said the band’s three and occasionally four part harmonies worked extremely well and helped fill out the vocal sound.
And, to be fair, they didn’t put much of a musical foot wrong across the entire ninety minute set, bolstered by lasers and video backdrops that complemented whatever song was front and centre at the time.
Nor did it hurt that the current line-up of ever-present and 78 years young Dave Brock, veteran 'Hawk drummer Richard Chadwick, bassist/ keyboardist Niall Hone and latest recruit, keyboardist and guitarist Magnus Martin (with the band since 2016) were joined on this tour by Hawkwind musical associate Tim Blake.
The band's guest returnee featured on keytar but really came in to his space rocking own when he added his atmospheric and sonically sculptured Theremin pitches.
Opening with the semi-hypnotic rock of 'Motorway City' from perennial fan favourite Levitation guaranteed the crowd were on-side from the get-go and ready to enjoy their helping of 'Flesh Fondue' when it followed in all its space-punk romping glory, complete with trademark jagged Dave Brock vocals and guitar (although not quite as vocally defined as normal; Brock was suffering from a cold and, as he so frankly put it, "old age!")
'Flesh Fondue' was one of five songs to feature in the set from All Aboard the Skylark, a testament to the band’s policy of making it as much about the new as the classic era/ old.
Skylark is also an album that nods to their folk-pop-prog leanings as much as their space-rock, typified by 'Last Man On Earth,' sung by Magnus Martin.
While a good vocal fit for the more melodic or mellow numbers Magnus Martin is not the strongest voiced singer in the world; that said the band’s three and occasionally four part harmonies worked extremely well and helped fill out the vocal sound.
Beyond the musical adventures of the Skylark album (including the brooding '65 Million Years Ago') older material that shone under the lights and lasers included a storming 'Born to Go' (preceded by a narrative snippet of the late Hawkwind great Robert Calvert’s 'The Song of the Gremlin' – nice touch Mr Brock), 'Spirit of the Age' (the Weegie crowd in full voice for the title chorus), Richard Chadwick’s superbly voiced rendition of 'Silver Machine' and a wonderfully full sounding 'Assault and Battery/ The Golden Void,' sweeping us all back to "the edge of time."
The band’s new wave techno rocker 'Right to Decide' was a perhaps surprising set choice but given the clusterfucked state of political affairs ("You can't do this, you can't do that, you can't go forward and you can't go back") it was frankly, an inspired air punching set closer.
An encore of psychedelic folk rocker 'Hurry On Sundown' (taking us back to where it all started fifty years before) and a Space Ritual ending of 'Master of the Universe' (Niall Hone giving it some serious bass riffing) and 'Welcome to the Future' meant the Glasgow 'Hawk fans went home very happy indeed.
Space ladies and rock gentlemen, the now half century old good ship Hawkwind, captained by the musical spirit of the ageless Dave Brock.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Photo credits: Ritchie Birnie
The band’s new wave techno rocker 'Right to Decide' was a perhaps surprising set choice but given the clusterfucked state of political affairs ("You can't do this, you can't do that, you can't go forward and you can't go back") it was frankly, an inspired air punching set closer.
An encore of psychedelic folk rocker 'Hurry On Sundown' (taking us back to where it all started fifty years before) and a Space Ritual ending of 'Master of the Universe' (Niall Hone giving it some serious bass riffing) and 'Welcome to the Future' meant the Glasgow 'Hawk fans went home very happy indeed.
Space ladies and rock gentlemen, the now half century old good ship Hawkwind, captained by the musical spirit of the ageless Dave Brock.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Photo credits: Ritchie Birnie