HW: Love in Space, Chaos, Space Ritual 1994 Live

[Frank Weil]

I am finally getting around to reviewing my latest Hawkwind additions.
I recently acquired the Love in Space CD, the Chaos video, and Nik
Turner's Space Ritual 1994 Live video.  Overall, I am quite pleased
with the lot.

Love in Space is actually better than I was expecting.  The fold-out
packaging, while aesthetically pleasing, make it (*&(@# difficult to
get the CDs out without ripping the cover or getting fingerprints on
the CD.  This is a minor fault, though.

I wasn't originally expecting too much from the CD because of the more
laid-back, ambient-leaning, synth-noodling attitude that the band
seems to have taken recently in concert.  Much to my pleasant
surprise, however, LiS seems to have a undercurrent of high energy
permeating the whole performance.  I found the music to be compelling
from start to finish.  Even the slower bits don't seem to distract
from the overall flow.  I recommend this CD, but don't expect another
Live Chronicles because it's just not quite up to that standard (for
those of you keeping score at home, I like LC better than Space
Ritual).


The Chaos video was recorded at Guild Hall, Preston, on December 3,
1986.  I have mixed feelings about this video.  On the plus side, the
five-piece version of Hawkwind has an incredibly full sound.  The
songs are great, and focus on the fire breathers is kept to a
minimum.

On the negative side, the sound quality is not up to par.  I'm not
sure it is even in stereo, but if it is, the separation is horrible.
The sound has a clipped feeling, as though it were recorded on cheap
equipment.  Also, the full concert is not recorded.  There are several
cuts in the tape which seem unnecessary.  If they whole concert was
filmed (and I don't know that it was), then there is no reason not to
put it out on a longer tape.  Finally, the dancer that they did have
there are laughably bad.  If you think the occasional dancer in a tutu
is not the height of beaux arts, then be prepared for the guy on stage
whose whole concept of "dancing" is to make clawing motions with his
arms.

If you can get by these annoyances, then the video is quite nice as a
record of that era.  I would still recommend it, but then I tend to
the more completist category anyway.


Turner's SR '94 video is quite good.  The sound quality is excellent,
the camera work is good, the picture is clear, and the only lunatic
dancing on stage is Nik. :-) The band is tight and the overall sound
reminds me of the older, fuller, Hawkwind sound.  My only complaints
about this video are the spoken part by Genesis P-Orridge (completely
pointless) and the over-reliance on cheap video special effects
(distracting).  For those not entrenched in the anti-Nik camp, this
video is a nice rendering of their tour.

As always, YMMV.

Frank
ObCD: Primus - Frizzle Fry

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Frank Weil | frankw at comm.mot.com | phone: (847) 576-3110 | fax: (847) 576-3240

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