Customer Reviews

In Concert: Out of the Shadows

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an excellent concert with the basic lineup of Dave Brock, Allan Davey and Richard Chadwick supplemented with Huw Lloyd-Langton, Tim Blake and Arthur Brown. The best thing is the track selection which is significantly different than most Hawkwind shows and features some more obscure Hawkwind songs as wll as two Robert Calvert songs (1,6), two Arthur Brown songs (4,7), one Tim Blake song (9) and one Lemmy song (10). Here is the Track listing:

1) Aero Space Age Inferno

2) Angel of Death

3) Out of the Shadows

4) Time Captives

5) Master of the Universe

6) The Song of the Gremlins

7) Time & Confusion

8) Hurry On Sundown

9) Lighthouse

10) The Watcher

11) Assassins of Allah

12) Earth Calling

13) Sonic Space Attack

14) Silver Machine

This was recorded early in the tour and although as Dave Brock claims in the additional one hour interview that they didn't have much practice time, the band pulls off a tight and energetic performance. My only quibbles are that the camera work is pretty basic and the show is only 80 minutes long so I docked it one star. That being said this is still worth the money.

Superb music DVD that is SURE to fully please any true Hawkfan. First you get an 80-minute concert that was filmed at the Opera House in Newcastle, UK on December 4, 2002. Fourteen songs total, with several must-experience 'deep album cuts'. Tunes like "Out Of The Shadows", "Master Of The Universe", "Huury On Sundown" (off their very first lp), the *ss-kicking "Assassins Of Allah" and "Earth Calling" (which carries into "You Shouldn't Do That") were all shot with a full-blown psychedelic light show. Other memorable moments include two Bob Calvert gems, "Aerospace Age Inferno" and "Song Of The Gremlins". Fellow aging long-time UK rocker - none other than Arthur Brown is guest vocalist on several songs here and serves his purpose as Hawkwind's frontman, rather well I thought. Even gets to perform two of his own songs here, "Time Captives" and "Time & Confusion". A very happening bit on this DVD is when Brown comes out all dressed in black like 'the invisible man' for "Sonic{Space}Attack". After the show, Dave Brock gives an hour long interview speaking of playing space rock, Hawkwind's expensive stage shows, musical roots, etc. Simply great picture and sound quality. A must-have.

Hawkwind has never been about Dave Brock. Dave will be the first to tell you that.
Out Of The Shadows is one great Hawkwind Concert. Huw Lloyd is healthy and in fine form. Tim Blake is back on synth (he from the glory days of Gong, and from the Ginger Baker/Levitation era of Hawkwind).
The rare treat here is Arthur Brown. Remember Fire by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown? Yeah, that guy, and if you don't know, he is/was/always has been one of the GREAT British front men, eccentric or otherwise. On this DVD he is at the top of his game and has lost none of his three octave range.
For me, the inclusion of Arthur Brown as front man is a natural fit and shows that Dave Brock, once again, has impeccable taste.
The song selection is a bonus rare treat. The obligatory ones are here: Master Of The Universe, Silver Machine, Assassins of Allah, but so are Out of the Shadows (from Space Bandits), You Shouldn't Do That (uncredited) (from In Search Of Space), The Watcher (from Doremi Fasol Latido), Earth Calling and Sonic Attack (from Space Ritual), two Arthur Brown songs - one sung through a pirate ship anchor, Tim Blake's Lighthouse and more. Don't miss this one.

This is a crisp, well recorded DVD that brings back great memories of a much loved band. The classic tracks, with Dave Brock on vocals, show all that is best about Hawkwind; pulsing psychedelic space rock with soaring lead guitar from Huw Lloyd Llangton. Truly a joy to watch and listen to. The interview, with the Captain (Brock) is interesting as well; a trip down memory lane.

The only downside, to this old time fan, is the addition of Arthur Brown on lead vocals, who, unfortunately brings little to the table for the Hawkwind tracks (plus he fluffs some of the lyrics) and is a bit too into himself during the music he brings from outside which, IMHO, is mediocre at best.

Oh well, a small price to pay for such an otherwise stellar disc - and you can always use the fast forward button to skip to the next good bit......

Great concert overall. Arthur Brown was new for me as guest vocalist. I could listen to "Time Captives" over and over but I think he butchers "Master of the Universe". After hearing "Aerospace Age Inferno", I picked up Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters audio which is also great!! Good to see Huw playing after so many health battles. Alan Davey on bass and Tim Blake on keyboards, who also does "Lighthouse" a fine rarity!

Greatly enjoyed the Dave Brock hour-long interview!!!!