Opening track The Future Never Waits delivers a 10-minute instrumental-led space-age march, before progressing into the guitar-driven followup The End, featuring Dave Brock’s trademark vocals and chugging machine-gun riffs. The Future Never Waits is presented by Hawkwind, (Dave Brock, Richard Chadwick, Magnus Martin, Doug MacKinnon and Tim “Thighpaulsandra” Lewis) on both CD and double vinyl and will be released to coincide with live shows in the spring and summer. The real gem on this record is the free-flowing jazz of They Are Easily Distracted, which shows what great musicians Richard Chadwick, Magnus Martin, Doug McKinnon and Tim ‘Thighpaulsandara’ Lewis are.

Hawkwind - The Future Never Waits - RAMzine Hawkwind - The Future Never Waits - RAMzine

You do need to be paying attention, as next up is ‘They Are So Easily Distracted’, another 10 minute opus that meanders along with piano, saxophone and synthesisers conjuring up magical sounds that are really enjoyable with a meaningful spoken finish.You really need to either to play it through headphones or – perhaps surprisingly considering the content – turn the volume up and let it rip – filling your environment with the sound – to get the best from it. The band’s 35th studio album is an outstanding progression to their varied and celebrated catalogue. Here they make more use of electronics to create an almost dreamlike beginning to the album, which at times is a little reminiscent of Ozric Tentacles. All of the releases listed here are the original ones; retitles, re-releases and derivatives have purposefully been omitted.

Hawkwind: The Future Never Waits, 2LP Vinyl Edition Hawkwind: The Future Never Waits, 2LP Vinyl Edition

It is the next two tracks that throw a curve-ball at the listener; Aldous Huxley and They Are So Easily Distracted have a more jazz influenced style, which is almost laid-back and could be described as having something of a lounge feel. As the (reluctant) man in the prime spot, he’s joined again by Magnus Martyn and Richard Chadwick, plus Doug MacKinnon and Tim “Thighpaulsandra” Lewis. The discography of the British space rock group Hawkwind spans from their formation in 1969 through to the present day, with consistent output of live and studio albums, EPs and singles.

It was probably inevitable they’d finally do a tribute to British philosopher Aldous Huxley, who drifted off this mortal on an LSD trip, as they throw in some samples that give a real sense of a fellow traveller on the astral plane. However, the balance comes with the sonic theme of The Future Never Waits that places a strong emphasis on more ambient sounds and brushstrokes which have dominated the first half of the album. Other tracks like ‘Rama (The Prophecy)’ and ‘I’m Learning To Live Today’ sit tightly in the Hawkwind groove, providing old and new fans alike with the intense and concentrated fusion of musical styles they’ve come to expect and celebrate. The Future Never Waits is a quieter, more introspective work with somewhat less of the usual driving space riffs, and frequent excursions into Steve Hillage / Ozric Tentacles territory. Rama (Prophecy)’ is also a typical Hawkwind rock out, and with ‘Learning To Live Today’ being a mix of riffs and spacey ambience.