HW: Oh no, it's Nik versus Dave!

[Stephen Swann]

Paul Mather writes:
>
> I think Rudy hit the nail on the head when he said, effectively, that
> everybody's idea of the "true" Hawkwind will differ according to their
> favourite lineup/time period.  I am reminded of that scene in the film
>
> Which one is Hawkwind?  You decide.  But I suspect that decision is based
> more upon whether you like their output more than whether they have
> "legitimate" claim to the title.

Well, I think that's pretty much what I said.  Both bands have a clear
lineage.  I was indulging in some idle observations as to which one
"sounds" more like one expects Hawkwind to sound.

>  It could be argued (especially by the
> Swedish Hawkfans on this list) that Nik Turner is playing more in the
> "Hawkwind style" of old than Hawkwind are today.  By all accounts, the
> NiXtar show was a blinder...
>
> To me, _Space Ritual '94_ Nikwind sounds a bit like the 80s heavy metal
> Hawkwind.  It doesn't sound much like Pressurehed.  I'm waiting to hear
> _Past or Future_ (when my local eventually manages to order it for me!).

Wasn't _Space Ritual '94_ recorded with Helios Creed on guitar?  That's
why I specifically qualified my statements with the fact that I have
never heard Nikwind+Helios.  From the accounts that I have heard, that
show sounded distinctly more Hawkwind-ish than this past year's tour,
with just the Pressurehed guys on bass and guitar.  When I saw them in
NYC, they sounded like Pressurehed, with Nik on vocals.  I couldn't
hear Del in the mix at all, and the only reason I could pick out Simon's
contribution was because I was standing right in front of him, and
could *see* what he was playing, and thus strain my ears to catch it.

On the other hand, when I saw Hawkwind, they bloody well sounded like
Hawkwind.  They played far too much ambient stuff for my taste (including
breaking up Hassan I Sabha by inserting some ambient piece right into
the middle of it), but it was still distinctly Hawkwind, and when they
powered up their instruments (Dave's guitar saw all too little action),
they damn near rocked the walls down.

The truth of the matter is, that I *wish* Nik sounded more like Hawkwind,
because he played a much superior selection of old favorites and
interesting new stuff than did Brockwind.  He also seemed much more
interested in the fans, deigning to <gasp> *speak* to them, even.  He's a
real gentleman and a great performer.  His backup band are a fine bunch.
I Pressurehed a lot, in fact I play _Infadrone_ all the time.  But that
still didn't make them sound like *any* recognisable or imaginable
Hawkwind era, and I found that somewhat unsatisfying.

Steve