Hurry Before It's Gone
Fritz Gerlich | admin@audioetc.info | 12/05/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The first 3000 copies will be the 3 cd set, then it will revert to being a single cd. So don't hesitate too long in ordering this one. The packaging is outstanding. You get a clamshell cd case, 3 cds in cardboard slipcases, 3 postcards, and a 35 page book.
The sound quality of the original Levitation album on disc one is fantastic. Although it was one of the first ever digitally recorded albums, the sound hardly suffers at all from the primitive DACs they must have been using in 1980. Much more important than that though, is the new mixing and mastering are first rate. This album has never sounded so good. There is no clipping or distortion so prevalent in today's rock/pop world (go to wikipedia and look at 'loudness war' for more info). This version has lots of dynamic range and even some headroom, which is almost unheard of on post 2000 rock releases. I am so happy that Atomhenge treated this one as an audiophile company would have, giving us the best sound quality possible. The sound is crystal clear, with outstanding separation, and the top end is so much better than earlier releases. And the bass is mighty.
The sound quality on the extras on disc one is so-so, but that is because of the source material, not the mixing/mastering guys. There are some Hawklord tracks from '79. The line was Brock, Bainbridge, King, and Swindells. "Douglas in the Jungle", "Time of", and "British Tribal" are loose jams and mostly instrumental. There is also the first version of "Who's Gonna Win The War", and the full length "Valium 10". Nothing new, but still great to hear in better quality. The disc also includes tracks with the Brock, Bainbridge, Lloyd-Langton, Baker, and Blake lineup: "Who's Gonna Win the War" and the b-side "Nuclear Toy". The only unreleased track on the disc is a so-so live version of "Brainstorm".
Most of the dec 18 1980 Lesisham Odeon gig appears on discs 2 and 3. Most of this material has been released before on the "This is Hawkwind" and "This is Hawkwind Do Not Panic" live albums. The gig was one of the great ones, and this set is with out a doubt the best sounding. However it is not the complete gig. One of the owners of Atomhenge has said: "We had to leave a few tracks off because the recording quality deteriorated vastly at various points." Some hardcores, myself included, wish they would have left the bits in with the poor sq. The Atomhenge people might be surprised what fans who listen to audience recorded boots will put up with. I should mention also that the earlier versions aren't complete either. In fact, the music presented in this set is the most complete out of all of them.
In summary: for Hawkwind fans this set is an absolute must have."
Ginger Baker is awesome on this
Steven Scharmer | Clearwater, FL United States | 01/26/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Levitation is my favorite Hawkwind album, and one of my all-time favorites of any genre of music. Awesome space rock with a hard and slightly progressive edge. Ginger Baker is an outstanding drummer, and this was the only Hawkwind studio album he participated on. He adds a lot to the songs. So does synthesizer player Tim Blake (of Gong fame). This was also his only studio album with Hawkwind. His synths sound very futuristic and spacey and cool.
This was also Huw Lloyd-Langton's first studio album since the 1970 debut album. His guitar work sounds very fresh and exciting. I think this was his best lead guitar work of all the studio albums he played on.
Fritz's review covers the packaging and sound quality. I wish they had put Nuclear Toy right after Dust of Time. Nuclear Toy was the only "leftover" song from the Levitation studio sessions, so it doesn't make sense to put it 15th, after 5 Hawklords songs.
As for the concert material on discs 2 & 3, there are some real gems. Baker is just smoking on Space Chase, disc 3. Also, Keith Hale's Dangerous Vision was an excellent, overlooked Hawkwind song, and the live version here is great.
I highly recommend this to Hawkwind fans. Newbies should check the samples.
"
Track Listings (17) - Disc #1