Hawkwind – Warrior On The Edge Of Time: Steven Wilson remix (Atomhenge)

LP

Out thirtieth June 2023

Atomhenge make accessible the 2013 remix of a Hawkwind area rock staple on vinyl for the primary time – full with a gatefold sleeve that folds out right into a defend.  Nathan Brown writes.

Warrior On The Fringe of Time was a 1975 collaboration between Hawkwind and Michael Moorcock and was Hawkwind’s most profitable studio album, peaking at quantity 13 within the UK album chart (crushed solely by the reside album Area Ritual which made it to quantity 9 and is getting a fiftieth anniversary reboot from Atomhenge later this 12 months).  It was primarily based round Moorcock’s Everlasting Champion characters and set inside a multiverse of parallel universes, dimensions, and different realities, unfold throughout time and galaxies. Songs communicate of wizards and chaos – and naturally warriors – however don’t spell out one clear story like many an idea album. They supply an perception into some features of Moorcock’s multiverse and people warriors who wait on the finish of time for a ultimate battle. Hawkwind and Moorcock present a dirtier, extra chaotic narrative than many of the neat and tidy “starting, center and finish” prog idea albums that appeared to typify the mid 70s. They might return with one other idea album telling the story of Moorcock’s Elric character in 1985.

To some that is the head of the band’s achievements once they have been on the peak of their powers. They actually had a powerful line up with each Dave Brock and Nik Turner offering vocals. Brock, the one fixed within the band’s persevering with profession was on guitar, after all. Turner’s flute is floating over the combo, extra distinguished than on another Hawkwind file, and his saxophone on results is in attendance too. It was the final file that includes Lemmy on bass, and simply earlier than they radically modified their sound with Bob Calvert on the helm. Multi-instrumentalist Simon Home pushed the band’s use of sonic turbines and synthesizers additional, additionally contributing violin. This album options two drummers in Simon King and Allan Powell. At instances they supplied doubled up drive and at others one or the opposite centered on percussion. The voice of Michael Moorcock additionally leaps off the web page and into the studio.

This remix by Steven Wilson utilizing the unique masters was beforehand accessible on CD however now accessible on vinyl has been reduce at Abbey Highway Studios. Recognising the aesthetic worth, Atomhenge have recreated the enduring full gatefold sleeve which resembles a fantasy comedian cowl in fashion. When unfolded to disclose all 4 quarters, the mirrored panorama of a warrior on a precipice reveals an enormous drop. That is the sting of time. For those who draw again from the element the panorama resembles a helmet. It’s a surprising piece of artwork.  A defend embellished with a chaos image makes up the reverse.  Even when you could find a second hand copy of this file (practically 50 years previous) with the duvet intact, the colors simply aren’t going to be this brilliant!

Assault and Battery begins with a distinguished bass line and hovering mellotron earlier than excessive hats usher in the remainder of the band together with a distinguished flute. The prolific flute taking part in by Nik Turner along with his saxophone is without doubt one of the traits of this album offering a very floaty really feel. Dave Brock’s recognisable vocals and guitar fashion come at you whereas synthesizers part out and in making a whooshing seascape. The guitar and synths wash over you in waves and there’s an prolonged flute solo, all of which works collectively to create a spacey, trippy impact. The repeated refrain phrase “Assault and Battery of the human anatomy” is punctuated on its final go spherical with “man” simply in case you have been in any doubt that Hawkwind have been a band of selection for these hippies who had refused to give up the beliefs of the counter tradition.

With a crash of cymbals, Assault and Battery segues into The Golden Void, the backbeat and synths persevering with so it appears like a continuation, which it’s, as that is technically one beast of a observe. The synths preserve the hyperlink whereas the drums and bass drop the tempo. Our protagonist, talking to us via Dave Brock, is being transported someplace, somewhen and the music creates the feeling of a journey. The wall of devices create a swirling environment with hovering synthesizers and the saxophone burbling away. He’s flying, however is the “hall of flame” within the sky, via area or via time? The vacation spot turns into clear as Brock concludes the music and the repetition of “The sting of time” offers this tune an anthemic, filmic high quality. The varied drones, chords and runs on the bass appear extra subdued on this explicit combine from the unique which is a disgrace as, to my thoughts, that is without doubt one of the highlights of this music.  This pairing of songs would develop into a reside favorite reappearing on later reside albums, and Assault & Battery being a reside B facet to 1986’s Zarozinia single.

The Golden Void fades and Michael Moorcock takes centre stage for The Wizard Blew His Horn. His echoing poetry is partway between Shakespearean monologue and ranting mad man. Cymbals crash to intensify the sensation of chaos and moody synthesizers develop in depth. As Moorcock’s voice drifts away, crashing waves take over. A intelligent option to hyperlink this observe with the subsequent, the seas fading as Opa Loka takes maintain.

Chugging drums and bass create a ahead momentum that rises and falls giving Opa Loka one thing of a relentless really feel, pushed by the motorik krautrock beat. As your physique motors right into a trance-like state your thoughts is taken elsewhere. It is a trace on the course the band would take within the close to future. The results laden sax, guitar, violin and synths present that each one necessary environment, spiraling off into the trademark Hawkwind area twitter. The waves that introduced the music in proceed because the music fades to be joined by seagulls because the arpeggio acoustic guitar of The Demented Man begins. By the point the music hits the refrain the guitar is being strummed. It’s a melancholy mellow nod again to the early days of Hawkwind. Light synths and seagulls present a chilled background whereas different devices pop in to affix and depart the fray. It’s comprehensible why this album was so widespread amongst mid 70s crowd of individuals in search of to mellow out.

Beginning facet 2, wind builds the stress earlier than Dave Brock’s uneven guitar heralds the beginning of Magnu. This tribute to a flying horse is a perennial reside favorite with a motoring riff supplied by guitar, bass and drums whereas Brock’s vocals, Simon Home’s violin and Turner’s sax part out and in excessive. Drum rolls proliferate through the pre-chorus and the hovering refrain is adopted by an japanese sounding post-chorus riff.

This japanese sound would develop into a extra distinguished characteristic of Hawkwind’s sound within the coming years. The violin and saxophone battle it out in an prolonged center part till wah wah guitar and synths usher again a return to the verse. One in every of Hawkwind’s defining traits was to repeat phrases, musical or vocal, to supply a driving momentum and construct their depth . On Magnu it’s the repetition of “till we diminish by the reign of night time” alongside the repettive riff. After extra battles between the devices vying for consideration, syncopated percussion emulates a horse’s gallop and the music lastly closes on this coda. Brock’s voice turns into ever extra robotic and the music turns into extra frantic earlier than fading.

Most of the songs on this album fade relatively than having a particular ending and I’d like to know the way lengthy their jamming outros went on for at Rockfield earlier than somebody referred to as time (or possibly they ran out of tape!).

The wind segues from Magnu to Standing On The Edge which is one other echoey sinister poem in regards to the fringe of time over a heartbeat keyboard. The trademark area results and synths play all through whereas dramatic booming drums like these in a Hollywood Medieval court docket or battle scene intensify and punctuate Turner’s phrases. It’s on tracks like this that this remix appears to essentially do its work in opening up the soundscape.

A searing lazer of a keyboard begins Spiral Galaxy 28948 earlier than the drums and a wonderful sounding bass usher in a double strummed guitar which units the tempo and signifies elevate off. This spacey, keyboard laden, meandering tune may simply have been the theme for a 70s sci-fi TV present – someplace between Gerry Anderson and Blakes 7. Simon Home’s synths are very a lot the star of the present whereas the flute and playful drums act as a supporting solid. It actually does sound like a journey via a spiral galaxy.  The music closes by disappearing over the horizon like a UFO.

Warriors sees the return of Michael Moorcock in full dalek mode with the opening line “We’re the Warriors on the Fringe of Time”. You half anticipate him to achieve that magic phrase “exterminate”. Once more, booming and rolling drums and percussion intensify the phrases. The hovering keyboards remodel into area sounds as Moorcock’s cry disappears – as if falling right into a ravine. A easy clunky bass line leads into Dying Seas, joined by a effervescent keyboard, chugging guitar and the twin drums.  The bass and guitar journey up the size through the music and there are factors the place they seemingly borrow musical phrases from different tunes on the album.  Turner’s vocal swaps with violin or keyboards because the lead. Once more, a cool considerably discordant jam with loads of Turner’s sax fades out to shut the music.

A chiming guitar and choose slide kicks off the album nearer Kings of Velocity. Shaped round one other chugging riff it has a contact of boogie.  It nearly seems like Standing Quo in its blues primarily based strategy however with the added Hawkwind wall of tumbling and rising keyboards and synths. A neat but simplistic guitar solo is layered over cowbell after which complemented by a decidedly folksy sounding violin. Kings of Velocity was not about amphetamine (a drug which might result in the band parting methods with Lemmy and giving the world Motörhead) however about varied of Moorcock’s characters grabbing an area flight. Moorcock is credited with writing lyrics by varied sources on-line, though solely Brock is credited on the album.

The Steve Wilson remix has extra depth and dynamic vary and the wall of devices does appear to have extra readability and separation. You may hear extra of what’s going on which makes this immersive album much more of a listening expertise. In a single or two locations Lemmy’s fantastic sounding Thunderbird bass is prevented from slicing via. It doesn’t sound horrible because it’s solely in a few spots, however to my thoughts it’s a disgrace. For some, this can be a worth value paying to get a much less muddy combine however some purists is probably not completely satisfied. The perils of anybody messing with the unique artefact!

There’s a chaos military of Hawkwind followers who will recognize this chance to seize a mint copy of this file and it’s sleeve with out having to barter the perils of the dear second hand market. Some collectors will probably be eager to finish the set, submitting it alongside their a lot beloved authentic.

Accessible from Atomhenge

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Phrases by Nathan Brown. You may learn extra from Nathan on his Louder Than Battle archive over right here.