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Album Details

• Artist: Hawkwind
• Album: In Search Of Space
• Label: United Artists
• Year of Release: 1971
• ME Rating: Indie Classic
• Reviewed by: gwhill on 2012-12-06

One of the key elements of the space rock sound is a sort of subtlety of progression. What I mean by that is that things generally move and change slowly and gradually. That sort of aspect means that a fairly simple song structure can be stretched into extended song-length with slight modifications along the road leading to a real journey. That element was established on the first Hawkwind and album, and in a lot of ways this follow-up (sometimes referred to as “X – In Search of Space”) really builds on that. There is a heavier wall of sound texture here in a lot of ways, and it’s perhaps less organic. That makes it closer to the sound of the music in the rest of Hawkwind’s catalog.

This album, as are all the early Hawkwind albums, is an essential disc. It’s recommended for anyone who wants to understand Hawkwind. It’s sure to please all hardcore Hawkwind fans. There really were a lot of flavors represented on the album, many of which became Hawkwind archetypes that remain throughout their career in one form or another. The psychedelic tribal chant approach of the first album seemed represented and evolved on the nearly 16-minute opening number “You Shouldn’t Do That.”

“Master of the Universe” was one of the heaviest early Hawkwind pieces. It showed signs of the sound that one would expect on later Hawkwind albums. It really became a Hawkwind classic piece, too. “We Took the Wrong Step Years Ago” had a ballad-like sound to it, and it would become a sound that the group returned to frequently in their history. It showcased both a space ballad sound that has been ever present in the history of the group and a lyrical focus on environmental issues, also a recurring them within Hawkwind’s catalog. “Adjust Me” showed off the science fiction side of Hawkwind, with weird space merged with a slowed down and sped up vocal, simulating a robot getting faster and faster as it requests adjustment.

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