Hawkestrel - Chaos Rocks

by Julie Cruickshank

published: 29 / 10 / 2024

Label: Cleopatra Records
Format: CD

intro

Alan Davey’s Hawkestrel project brings together former Hawkwind band members and some surprising star guestts

Like most members of legendary freewheeling space-rock group Hawkwind, bassist Alan Davey has joined and left the band at various intervals. During the Covid-19 lockdown Davey launched his own project, Hawkestrel, which “like a starship bound for better worlds….ventured beyond the darkness that engulfed the planet”. ‘Chaos Rocks’ is the fourth album released from Hawkestrel, and it is as idiosyncratic and exciting as you would expect from an ex-member of Hawkwind. The album opens with ‘Near Earth Asteroid’, calling to mind classic later Hawkwind, a moody, spacey synth piece. ‘Evil Rock (2023 AD)’ employs fuzzy, bluesy guitar from ex-Rolling Stone Mick Taylor and Hawkwind alumni Bob Calvert on vocals. ‘Kinnikinnick Special’ features American industrial rock/psychedelic guitarist Helios Creed wah-wahing his way through this mid-paced hypnotic, trancey track. The surprise of the album is a version of Hawkwind classic ‘Silver Machine’ featuring none other than Star Trek actor William Shatner, who declaims his way through the vocals backed up by American rock drummer Carmine Appice, Davey playing all other instruments. Title track ‘Chaos Rocks’, features late Hawkwind regular Nik Turner on sax bringing to this swirling, multi-layered track a touch of freeform jazz. ‘Walking the Wheel’ is another slice of Hawkwind-like rock, Huw Lloyd-Langton taking on lead guitar, while ‘2019 OK’ feels like a laid-back jam between Davey, Nik Turner and guitarist Mick Slattery. ‘Class One Kid’ feels punky; and then we are treated to three bonus tracks: ‘Opa Loka’, an epic of Hawkwind proportions featuring Nik Turner on flute and Davey playing everything else. Alien Sex Fiend’s gothic rock classic ‘Now I’m Feeling Zombified’ is given the Hawkestrel treatment with mellotron and lead guitar from former Buggles and Yes member Geoff Downes. The album closes with ‘Dangerous Visions’, the late ex-Cream drummer Ginger Baker contributing his classic fills and rolls to this intense track, notable also for searing guitar from Davey.

Track Listing:-

1 Near Earth Asteroid
2 Evil Rock (2023 AD)
3 Kinnikinnick Special
4 Silver Machine
5 Chaos Rocks
6 Walking The Whee
7 2019 OK
8 Class One Kid

Band Links:-

https://hawkestrel.bandcamp.com/album/pioneers-of-space

Label Links:-

http://www.cleopatrarecords.com/
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