Customer Reviews

Knights of Space

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

 

 

Decent sounding live recording of the space rock pioneers, from a December, 2007 gig at the London - Astoria. Not sure as to why I've read several negative reviews of this 2-CD import, sound quality here isn't perfect but it's quite acceptable. I, for one truly appreciated all the old material that Hawkwind cared to play at this particular concert. Haven't seen the DVD yet, I've only heard the audio portion of this 'should have' title. Was amazed at the good job they did on Michael Moorcock's futuristic poem - the classic (originally appeared on 'Space Ritual') "Black Corridor" along with vintage tracks like "Aerospace Inferno", "Orgone Accumulator", a piece off their landmark 'Hall Of The Mountain Grill' lp - "Paradox", "Time We Left (This World Today)", "Damnation Alley", another one of Moorcock's works of genius "Sonic Attack", Bob Calvert's "Flying Doctor" and "Silver Machine". Personnel: Brock, Tim Blake, Dr. Dibbs-bass & vocals, Jason Stuart (R.I.P.)-keyboards and Richard Chadwick-drums. Recommended for the true Hawkfan.

Although the mix is not all it could be, it is nowhere near as bad as people are claiming. It is still a pro recording after all, which puts it well ahead of some of the audience tape disasters we've been subjected to over the years. And as someone who probably won't be able to see Hawkwind in the forseeable future (unless they make it to California), I enjoy the chance to hear a recent performance. In this aspect, the band doesn't disappoint, delivering the classics with a twist and giving the material that extra live boost. While this certainly isn't Space Ritual, this does rank rather high on the Hawkwind live totem pole. Recommended

For a official Dave Brock release in 2008 with all the new technology ,why is the sound quality SO BAD? Maybe Hawkwind's worst album ever. Avoid or you'll be sorry!

****************************Personnel

* Dave Brock - guitar, keyboards, vocals

* Tim Blake - keyboards, theremin

* Jason Stuart - keyboards

* Mr. Dibs - bass guitar, vocals

* Richard Chadwick - drums, vocals

***************************Technical Stuff

First off, the mastering on this disc is fantastic. There is tonnes of dynamics, zero clipping, and zero mastering induced distortion. I wanted to give props to the mastering guy by mentioning his name here, but it is nowhere to be found in the packaging. I think this is because mastering guys today do not want to be known as making so called quiet cds, even though those are the cds that sound the best and move listeners the most. So I don't think the fact that there is no mention of the mastering guy is an accident.

Anyway, so the the mastering is great. Unfortunately, the whoever recorded the concert did a dreadful job for a professional. The sound is muddy, and in parts of the concert the drums and guitar almost disappear. Very poor.

***************************The Music

This is basically a live set of their greatest hits, using a very basic line up. The musicians run through the tunes, but never seem involved. There is virtually no jamming, or experimenting, or chance taking. It is almost as if I was listening to a Hawkwind cover band. It doesn't help that the vocal duties are carried out by Mr.Dibs and Dave. Both voices are thin and threadbare. The spoken word piecies "Black Corridor", "Robot", and "Sonic Attack" are delivered quite poorly in comparison with any of the other 12 000 versions released before.

**************************Summary

A fairly dull, straightforward, and passionless concert marred by substandard recording. For Kompletists only.

As you may all know the band have apologized for this travesty of an album which was released with a truly awful mix. Hawkwind with half the instruments missing!

First of all, the set list is one of the best setlists that you'll find on a Hawkwind live effort. Secondly, the sound is fine. At times it is a little thin, but this is NOT a bootleg from the audience as some would have you believe. What you have is a gread Live 2cd at a great price.

I had to get this album being a Hawkwind fan from day 1 almost 40 years ago and Hawkwind has made the best compilation of music ever heard like the Album Doremi fasol Latido and has been my ultimate thought of the greatest band to ever walk the face of the earth..BUT!!! Being that Dave Brock is the only original member of this new album and It totally whimps out big time beyond belief and I have to have it anyways because the history still is alive. Dave is such an underrated guitarist but I imagine that it is hard to stay jammin this long.Where did He get his new crew? From a wedding band? My ultimate fantasy--The band gets together for one last time with the members from the days that Lemmy was Bass player..

This album ripped my soul out. To hear the greatest band with a cult like following end their career soo badly compared as to seeing Micky Rooney on TV looking like Yoda doing Medicare health care commercials or Micheal Jordan trying to play baseball. I couldn't even finish the cd it is soo terrible. Not the sound quality mix but the actual music is lame and unbearable. 39 years of not 1 lower than untouchable albums and then to take us fans to suicide land like Jim Jones. What happened Dave? you are my God , But retired..The review would not accept 0 star soo I had to give it a 1. And the price is outrageous for this CD..As if they knew they needed to cash in..It sucks..Sorry Hawkwind..This is a real letdown .Lemmy and Nik Turner still rock, why Dave?? why did you release this embarrassment of a live performance as a CD instead of calling it a day?Just for snicks I played it at work and I work for a well known guitar amplifier manufacturer and soo the moment was funny..Everyone was laughing..This cd is such a joke..the End of Hawkwind has come. they should change the name of the band to Hogfarts or something to preserve the Hawkwind name as the greatest band ever instead of dragging it further into the depths of suck...I cannot say enough how terrible this album is...broke my soul...

This CD and the matching DVD are excellent. In fact it puts to rest some of the whining you hear from some that the Space Ritual was the best one ever. I love the Space Ritual, but compared to Knights of Space it suddenly sounds a little old and boring. The DVD is easily the best of the HW DVD releases so far. The sound quality is poor only if the equipment you have is also poor. The DVD actually makes you feel like you are at this show in a dazed state of mind. Tim Blake, and Mr Dibbs are superb. Jason Stuart (RIP) is really great on this. And of course Dave Brock really just knows how to do things and Richard, as usual, is great on the drums. It's perfomances like this that points out how mediocre some of the stuff from ex-Hawkwind people like Nik Turner is; pretty much just watered down Hawkwind. This is the REAL deal and anyone who enjoys Hawkwind should own the DVD and CD.