Short Reviews [Hawkestrel - 2024 - "Chaos Rocks"]

The latest Hawkestrel album from Alan Davey again includes contributions from other ex-members of Hawkwind, including quite a few who are dead (Huw Lloyd-Langton, Robert Calvert, Ginger Baker, Nik Turner for example) while Simon House is still with us, plus plenty of other guests such as Mick Taylor (yes, THAT Mick Taylor), Geoff Downes and others. If my calculations are right, then based on what I can see, only three of the 11 tracks (including the three bonus ones only available on CD) do not have dead people involved, so I do wonder how much longer this project can proceed as surely Alan must be scraping the archives pretty clear. The album is space rock, massively influenced by one band, and I am sure there are plenty of Hawkwind fans who will be interested in hearing this, but it is only fair that I give you a warning. When you see that track #4 is indicated as having the guests William Shatner on vocals and drummer Carmine Appice you need to understand it really is William Shatner and Carmine, and while the drummer is everything you would expect, sadly so is Captain Kirk. This album is better than the least release, ‘Spacexmas’, but in truth that is not saying a great deal and will be just for the fans.