What Are You Listening To?

[Tiggi]

On the laptop.

1974 solo debut from deceased ex-Hawkwind front man.

Calvert and Hawkwind - in Hawklords mode - were the first live band I ever saw, so there'll always be a place in my heart for them.

This is a Hawkwind album in everything but name, featuring the then-current band members, with assistance from the likes of Brian Eno, Viv Stanshall, Arthur Brown, and a couple of members of cult UK band the Pink Fairies.

It's a stoner concept album concerning the unfortunate safety record of the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter military jet, which became known as The Widowmaker because there were so many unexplained crashes of the aircraft.

Calvert interlaces the songs with brief spoken sections which move the narrative thread forward, and the album comes across as a tragi-comic cold war satire along the lines of Dr Strangelove.

Not essential, as I probably have as much Hawkwind material as I need, so this is booted into touch, with no Buy List place.


AllMusic 3/5 stars.