Hawkbinge - the review!

Here's something off the wall. And not a little psychedelic. Also, I don't think I've reviewed a podcast before. Shiny gadgets are more my staple.

But I wanted to put some thoughts down - and a recommendation - for Hawkbinge, an occasional podcast covering the complete discography of Hawkwind, the space rock band from 1970 through to the current day (with the main man, Dave Brock, now in his 80s(!), though thankfully supported by a revolving cast of younger chaps).

Hawkwind as a band were always interesting to me because of their driving sound, sci-fi lyrics, and progressive/experimental leanings. And there have been many books written about their history and output. (I've even done a few mini-sites on tangential personnel and bands. Plus webmastering, in the past, for Huw Lloyd Langton, and playing Hawkwind tunes in support gigs.)

But Hawkwind music has never been covered in this much detail. Andy Hood (long time Hawkwind fan) and Matt Longstaff (complete novice to their work, so fresh ears, etc.) have put Hawkbinge together and are up to 18 episodes, as I write this, started in Covid lockdown and carrying on through today. Of which more in a moment.

The production qualities, research needed, and format, are all exceptional. In a typical episode, usually one per album, we get:

• General introduction (band news etc.) for the time
• Other major music released in that album's time frame
• Matt's first hot take
• Detailed reviews of each track
• Overall verdict
• Album's place in the wider Hawkwind fan universe
• Two track picks for the Hawkbinge Spotify playlists

Which all works very well indeed. It's fascinating hearing someone else's thoughts on tracks he's never heard before even though they were recorded almost half a century ago! Matt focusses a little more on the words than music, which is clearly his choice, and is fine, since it adds a focus on lyrics that I'd rarely thought about too deeply. 

While I don't agree with all his assessments so far (I'm not at all fond of the 80's drum production, from 'Sonic Attack' through to 'the Xenon Codex', for example, but he finds nothing wrong there) there's far more agreement than disagreement, thankfully. And the podcast makes addictive listening if you're a Hawkwind fan.

Around two hours an episode, it's not surprising that the show is not exactly weekly, given the listening and research and production needed. In fact, it's not even monthly, reflecting that Andy and Matt have lives and jobs, which is fair enough. 

But frustrating! I was in cloud nine while bingeing err... Hawkbinge, at an episode a week, but then I hit their current status and am facing the same multi-month wait as longer term subscribers. There's a running joke on the podcast that the episode release schedule is at least faster than Hawkwind at putting out new albums... so they should catch up... eventually!

Hawkwind's output is so diverse that there's something for everyone, and Hawkbinge is a terrific guide. Or will be, by the time they catch up - in usual detail, at least - to the band's latest release... in about 2028!

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