HAWKWIND – ‘Warrior On The Edge Of Time’ (Atomhenge / Cherry Red)

This is as about as classic as Hawkwind get, and an essential prog / space rock album if ever there was one. This 1975 album was the band’s fifth and the last to feature bassist Lemmy.

Atomhenge have already released this album as a 3 disc set so this single set in a digipak with one bonus track (Motorhead, the last song Lemmy wrote for the band) and a comprehensive booklet will more than suffice for all and any less than ardent fan. It also features a new mix, mastered from them original tapes so the sound is pretty amazing.

The lengthy Assault And Battery opens with a rhythmic space feel, and ‘The Wizard Blew His Horn’ is spoken word with plenty of noise and effects. There are a number of spoken word segments which may have been intended as poetry by lyricist (and sci-fi author) Michael Moorcock, but they are far from it.

Spaced out and rocking, if you have any interest in space rock or Hawkwind, this is essential listening, and Motorhead fans will love the history and original version of the eponymous track. 8.8/10
Joe Geesin