Space Shanty [Import]

Khan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 18, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Esoteric
• ASIN: B0013NBBOW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,040 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Space Shanty (Inc. The Cobalt Sequence and March of the Sine Squadrons)

2. Stranded (Effervescent Psychonovelty No. 5)

3. Mixed Up Man of the Mountains

4. Driving to Amsterdam

5. Stargazers

6. Hollow Stone (Escape of the Space Pirates)

7. Break the Chains [#][*]

8. Mixed Up Man of the Mountains [First Version][#][*]

Editorial Reviews

Best known as the album that first brought the guitar playing talents of guitarist Steve Hillage to public prominence, Khans's sole album is a splendid example of a fusion of Canterbury flavoured rock combined with jazz and space-rock influences. Originally released in 1972 by Deram records, it can now clearly be seen as the blue print for Hillage's later solo success. Hillage has acknowledged that "Space Shanty" was the "dry run" for his classic "Fish Rising" album. This reissue is remastered from the original master tapes and has extensive liner notes and includes two bonus tracks from a rediscovered acetate disc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A rediscovered piece of music wonder!, March 25, 2006

By 

Jose Artiles-Gil "José Leopoldo Artiles-Gil" (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Space Shanty (Reis) (Audio CD)

It was eleven years ago, when in the Cheapo record store (God Bless her) in Uptown Minneapolis, going through the shelves of used cds, I stumbled with one with the strange name of "Khan: Space Shanty", I looked at the back cover and there they were, four long haired guys, one of them even with a long beard. Among them was Steve Hillage, whose fame rang a little bit my bells, and there was Dave Stewart, of whom I had heard in the two vinyls I used to own of Hatfield and the North. Even so I took it to the desk and asked for a hearing of the disc. Well, it sounded good and it had a good price, four dollars if I recall well. I took it home, and played it, played it, played it..., my goodness, this disc grew and grew in me. 1972, impressive guitar work by Hillage, dreamy keyboard work by Dave Stewart, sound and fascinating rhythm section of Eric Peachey (drums) and Nick Greenwood (bass). The latter and Hillage perform the vocals, which are quite good and coherent with the style of the music played, authentic progressive rock characterized by awesome instrumentation, lots of time signatures, structured improvisation, long instrumental passages punctuated by nice and moving vocals that reinforce the epic feeling pervading the music. Besides, the lyrics composed mainly by Hillage not only transpire the spirit of the seventies, but reach out to a more universal subject, that of the questions and answers that the Human Being keeps on asking and wanting during its existence, set in a science-fictional frame.
It was quite strange for me that discovering such a disc in that marvelous Cheapo Record Stores of my adored city of Minneapolis was really a matter of much luck for me, because Space Shanty had been out of print for a long time!!! And not even the few reviews that I found in the internet, even some in the Amazon site, made justice to the value of this masterpiece.
I celebrate the reissue of such a wonder!!! I bought it again in Amazon, and here I give testimony that the purchase is worthwhile. This reissue contains two bonus tracks, plus a valuable commentary by a critic called Mark Powell. It is sad that this is the one and only record that this group made. That what did I do with my old disc? Well, after graduating in the University of Minnesota I live in my country now, the Dominican Republic, and thinking that good music must be shared, and already having the reissued one, I donated it to a former student of mine, 23 years old, who was struck by this awesome music.
Isn't that enough proof that this disc is worthy of all this praise? Buy it, and you will be grateful.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 stars - a forgotten gem, September 22, 2005

By 

Warren W. Nelson (Mooresville, NC USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Space Shanty (Reis) (Audio CD)

before joining Gong, steve hillage gathered this ensemble to perform the music that had been fermenting within him while at college. This is some of his most progressive and complicated songwriting with elaborate time signatures and dense arrangements. the music has a thick texture of progressive improvisation and elaborate composition thanks in no small measure to the presence of dave stewart on keybords fresh from his work with egg; in fact this resemble very closely some of egg's great albums but apparently hillage wrote the material. in fact hillage and stewart started their musical careers together in a band 'uriel' in high school actually recording a very psychedelic jam session together under the pseudonym 'arzachel' which is also excellant but very differant from this. on this album steve hillage brings all his emerging talent to the table. hillage and stewart have a keen telepathy and the intelligence on this album soars. the music (like egg) is very involved and will probably require keen attention or several listenings to hear the canterburian magic of this great album. every single track is fantastic, including the two bonus tracks. hillages guitar is superb and abundant all thru as is stewart's keywork. the high level of craftmanship never falters and this ends up being one of finest recordings of hillages career. he actually composed material for a second khan album which ended up being used on 'fish rising' which also utilized the talents of his friend stewart. while not as psychedelic and quite a bit more progressive than his later work, this is an absolutely beautiful example of canterburian space rock.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heavy and melodic "space prog" from this Canterbury band, December 22, 2006

By 

Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Space Shanty (Reis) (Audio CD)

This is a very interesting album from 1972 and certainly one of the heaviest that I have heard from the Canterbury scene. In fact, the riff heavy nature of this album took me a little by surprise - I think I was expecting something a little lighter. Khan is (and was) however a quintessential Canterbury rock band; especially with the dense ensemble work, high level of musicianship, and the ever-present sense of humor. Come to think of it, this album is somewhat stylistically similar to Gong's Camembert Electrique album from 1971 - except not as crazy!

The musicians include fantastic guitarist Steve Hillage (acoustic and electric guitar; vocals); incredible keyboardist Dave Stewart (organ, piano, celeste); Eric Peachey (Drums); and Nick Greenwood (electric bass and vocals). The musicianship on Space Shanty is top notch and there are loads of instrumental passages that show off some pretty dense ensemble work and fantastic soloing by Steve and Dave (they are impressive throughout). Eric and Nick are no slouches either and comprise an excellent rhythm section - in fact I would love to track down some other recordings by these guys but would not know where to start. The vocals and vocal harmonies are excellent by the way.

Although I have described the music as heavy (and believe me Steve rips it up on the electric), there are some very spacey and quieter sections that feature Dave's soft organ playing and Steve on acoustic guitar. In fact, some folks have described this album as space rock, although I think there is far too much going on each composition to call this space rock. In general, each piece features an excellent blend of heavy riffing played in unison on the bass and the electric guitar; intricate ensemble work; and more relaxed passages that feature vocals. The six pieces are highly melodic and it is clear that they spent just as much time on the vocal melodies as the fancier instrumental passages. The tracks are not too long (by prog standards) and range in length from 5'32" to 9'22" - they are all well put together and arranged.

This remastered album is pretty good and has great sound quality, restored cover art, song lyrics, and loads of liner notes. The short bonus tracks include the short (3'31") Break the Chain and an early version of Mixed up Man of the Mountains. Break the Chain is OK.

Space Shanty is very highly recommended along with Camembert Electrique. Steve Hillage went on to join Gong after this album and two heavy/spacey/proggy albums including Angel's Egg (1973) and You (1974) are both highly recommended.