CD Details

PXR5

HAWKWIND
1979 , UK , EAN CODE 5013929631021 - EURO 13.00

Label: ESOTERIC RECORDINGS/ATOMHENGE

ALBUM REVIEW
PXR5 was simply the Hawkwind continuation of Quark strangeness and charm, after the Hawklords LP, which has stayed like a digression in the band's back catalog. This album is imbibed with some aural contaminations of its time (recorded 1977-1978), say, new wave-ish spasms, and a tendency toward the 'simple' rock with 'fresh' spirit, irregularities that already were verified in Quark..., just another victim of the punk rock explosion. This must be the least interesting Hawkwind album of the 70s, abum which indicates the creative decomposition of a band that was losing its space rock sound, as some key members were abandoning the spaceship, the rhythm section of Quark strangeness and charm, with drummer Simon King and bassist Adrian Shaw is here again though. The Robert Calvert persona appears again, as vocalist, and with a vital participation in the songwriting, along with main man Dave Brock...the problem with PXR5 is exactly there: the songwriting is dull, mediocre for the Hawkwind's standards, tracks like the electronic experiment Life form, Uncle Sam's on Mars, Jack of shadows, Death trap or the long Robot are not too exciting tbf. Other problems are the annoying Calvert's vocals, a generally so-so Dave Brock, and the uninteresting atmosphere of the record as a whole; possibly the tracks to pick from this obscure record are High rise and Infinity, two fine tracks, especially Infinity, the title track may be mentioned, too, since it's a listenable song, but unfortunately, the disc is too influenced by a fashionable 'modern rock' sound, which is absolutely dissatisfying and shallow in my book. The Atomhenge CD issue features numerous (and unnecessary) bonus tracks, with alt takes of these same songs, basically a passionless record credited as 'Hawkwind', nominally, and with some few interesting aural points, like the Simon House, unfortunately scarce violin incursions, for example. Weak. (death_metal_doll - Rate Your Music)