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Cherry Red are pleased to
announce the new album by the legendary Hawkwind, Road To
Utopia. For their 31st studio album, the band have collaborated
with songwriter and conductor Mike Batt to recreate a selection
of Hawkwind songs with an extra, orchestral, ingredient.
Mike, who met
Dave Brock coincidentally at the US embassy in London while both
were applying for VISAs, was originally invited to conduct the
orchestra for Hawkwind’s sold-out shows at the London Palladium
(November 2018), but with demand so high they started to look
further afield and a tour for the autumn was planned.
At this time Hawkwind’s writing of a new acoustic album started
to take on a life of its own and the band invited Mike to
participate on the tracks and create arrangements for some of
their most celebrated songs. Mike says: “Dave was delightfully
free-spirited and generous to me, using a small ensemble of
additional musicians and giving me a pretty free hand with the
arrangements.” Alongside the string quintet, sax quintet and
brass section you’ll hear Dave Brock (vocals, electric, acoustic
guitars, harmonica, keyboards), Richard Chadwick (drums,
percussion, vocals), Mr Dibs (vocals), Haz Wheaton (bass) and
Magnus Martin (acoustic guitar).
Most will find the track listing on Road To Utopia familiar, but
you’ve never heard those famous songs like this before. Tracks
like Quark, Strangeness and Charm, We Took The Wrong Step Years
Ago and Psychic Power are re-rooted acoustically and then
embellished with a strength and majesty that only Hawkwind can
produce. Other songs like Down Through The Night and Hymn To The
Sun are made even more powerful by their orchestral components.
Joining Hawkwind and Mike et al on The Watcher is a very special
guest in Eric Clapton, whose trademark guitar licks compliment
Dave’s harmonica and Mike’s piano seamlessly.
This new album represents a fresh take on those classics, as
Dave says: "Reinventing these familiar songs has been an
interesting experience...We hope you like them." The band will
be touring with Mike in October and November, including sold out
dates at the Palladium in London.
Pre order links
Vinyl -
http://cherryred.co/RoadToUtopiaVinylLP
CD -
http://cherryred.co/RoadToUtopiaCD
See press release in original
form -
click here
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