Very Best Of Eddie Calvert, The - Eddie Calvert

Advantages: Has a couple of good Hawkwind tracks unavailable elesewhere
Disadvantages: Doesn't bear repeated listening

.... This is Vivian Stanshall (ex Bonzo Dog Band) and Robert Calvert talking nonsense, but it is funny. "The Right Stuff" is next up. Heavy metal bravado. Borrowing a phrase from the US Air Force to decsribe their top notch pilots. "The Board Meeting" is the spoken track which follows. The members of the Air Defence board discuss the performance of the plane and agree that, despite all evidence to the contrary, the plane is a success and will continue with the project. Then a very odd track. "Song of the Gremlin" is Calvert at his best. The myth that all air accidents are caused by the Gremlin, a creature which dedicates itself to destroying Mankind whenever he tries to fly. Flying being an unnnatural act! This track is repeated later on in the recording. Bizarrely it's a piano based song several miles away from usual Hawkwind stuff. "Ground Crew... Read review

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Advantages: Keeps Me Away from Tonka Trucks
Disadvantages: I Like Tonka Trucks

...and the Lockheed F-104G also know as the widow maker. This song is about Ejection from an aircraft about to crash a very sensible idea in my book…… and it is another great piece of proto-punk from the Robert Calvert. DOREMI FASOL LATIDO is another one of the classic Hawkwind albums from the early 70’s and is the first to feature what a lot of people say was the best line up of the band, I have varying opinions on that as each line up had it’s strengths and weaknesses. However this album saw them cement and define their heavy psychedelic space rock sound which you either love or hate, no middle ground on this one at all.... Read review

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Advantages: A reasonably good return to form
Disadvantages: Mathew Wright!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...but since it has him on it, it can do no wrong. "Sighs" is one minute and 22 seconds of ambient weirdness, the result of leaving musicians alone with technology which is a good thing in this case. "Angela Android" is an answer to "Spirit of the Age" in which the idea of loving an android is explored. It is full of spacey guitars and effects and features a guest vocal by Lene Lovich who recites instructions from a computer game adding to the theme of the song. The album finishes off with a poem by Arthur Brown set to music, which was inspired by former Hawkwind Vocalist, Poet and Lyricist, the late Robber Calvert and it is a great piece of weird electronica but Arthurs poem is not very good at all. This album is a good return to form by Hawkwind and the shift in direction to accommodate more Jazz elements is a very welcome one as it has recharged... Read review

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