Performer Notes

Hawkwind: Bob Calvert, Dave Brock (vocals, guitar); Nik Turner (saxophone, flute, background vocals); Lemmy (bass, background vocals); Simon King (drums), Del Dettmar (synthesizer); DikMik (programming).
Recorded in London and Liverpool, England.
Personnel: Dave Brock (vocals, guitar); Nik Turner (vocals, flute, saxophone); Lemmy Kilmister (vocals); Del Dettmar (synthesizer); Simon King (drums); Dik Mik (electronics); Stacia (dancer).
Audio Mixers: Anton Matthews; Vic Maile.
Recording information: Britxton Sundown, London (12/22/1972/12/30/1972).
Photographers: Gabi Nasemann; Laurie Lewis .
Featuring Hawkwind's classic lineup, which included vocalist/guitarist (and band constant) Dave Brock and bassist/occasional vocalist Lemmy (soon to depart and form Motorhead), 1973's SPACE RITUAL is monolithic in stature and stands as the group's most impressive live (if not overall) recording. Although the ensemble often garnered comparisons to Pink Floyd, Hawkwind was far more aggressive than Waters, Gilmour, and company, charging through a potent, freeform set of cosmic freakouts (the trippy "Earth Calling") and rumbling metal ("Lord of Light" sounds like Black Sabbath in lunar orbit). While the entire outing is stellar, the British space-rock group really hits a stride during the epic "Orgone Accumulator," which settles into a deep, acid groove. Although the spoken-word segments (most notably a recitation of sci-fi/fantasy author Michael Moorcock's "Black Corridor" by vocalist/poet Bob Calvert) might not suit everyone, SPACE RITUAL endures as both a document of its era and one of Hawkwind's finest releases.

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (p.124) - "[Hawkwind] make most current inner-space rock sound like prep-school drone."

Q (8/99) - Included in Q's Best Psychedelic Albums of All Time

Q (7/96, p.138) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...the definitive Hawkwind live experience, groaning with riffs, rhymes and bleeps from some distant planet via Brixton and Liverpool..."

Uncut (p.103) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t retains a chaotic power....Hawkwind simply groove....This remains as strongly defined as it did when it was first made."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.50) - Ranked #19 in Mojo's "The 50 Most Out There Albums Of All Time" - "As a true document of English eccentricities in orbit SPACE RITUAL is best enjoyed late at night - preferably in one, extremely relaxed, sitting."

NME (Magazine) (4/27/96, p.51) - 9 (out of 10) - "...one of the best live albums made....[Lemmy's] contribution gelled Hawkwind into the godfathers of metal....[makes] hard rock gods like Sabbath and Uriah Heep sound timid..."

Fishpond works with suppliers all over the world to bring you a huge selection of products, really great prices, and delivery included on over 25 million products that we sell. We do our best every day to make Fishpond an awesome place for customers to shop and get what they want — all at the best prices online.

About Fishpond

You can earn a 8% commission by selling Space Ritual on your website. It's easy to get started - we will give you example code. After you're set-up, your website can earn you money while you work, play or even sleep! You should start right now!

Are you the Author or Publisher of a book? Or the manufacturer of one of the millions of products that we sell. You can improve sales and grow your revenue by submitting additional information on this title. The better the information we have about a product, the more we will sell!

Submit Information