Description
Hawkwind – Bring Me The Head Of Yuri Gagarin – Compact Disc
Bring Me The Head of Yuri Gagarin is a live album by Hawkwind, recorded in 1973 but released in 1985. This album captures a particularly chaotic period in the band’s history and features a live performance that is both raw and emblematic of the band’s space rock style. The recording quality of the album is notably poor, a fact that has been pointed out by critics and fans alike, yet it holds a certain appeal for its historical significance and the energy captured during the performance.
The album is named with Hawkwind’s typical flair for dramatic and obscure references, in this case, evoking the name of Yuri Gagarin, the first human to journey into outer space. The music itself is a live rendition of Hawkwind’s early 70s material, characterized by their signature synthesis of rock, space themes, and electronic experimentation. The performance includes tracks that feature heavy use of synthesisers, distorted guitar, and the band’s usual space rock aesthetics.
Bring Me The Head of Yuri Gagarin includes live versions of some of Hawkwind’s classic tracks, although the sound quality significantly affects the listening experience. Tracks include:
“Master of the Universe” – One of Hawkwind’s most enduring songs, featuring driving bass lines and psychedelic lyrics.
“Orgone Accumulator” – Exhibits the band’s blend of electronic music influences with rock, centered around the concept of orgone energy theorized by Wilhelm Reich.
“Sonic Attack” – Known for its spoken word performance set against a backdrop of intense music, creating a hauntingly dystopian feel.
Upon its release, the album received mixed reviews primarily due to the poor audio quality of the recording, which many felt did not do justice to the band’s live energy and intricate musical layers. Despite this, Bring Me The Head of Yuri Gagarin is considered a collector’s item among Hawkwind enthusiasts. It captures a raw slice of the band’s live performance, reflecting the chaotic energy of their shows and the experimental spirit of the early 1970s.
The album serves as a historical document, showcasing Hawkwind’s influence on the space rock genre and live performance art. It reflects the band’s commitment to thematic content and theatricality in rock music, which has inspired numerous artists in the psychedelic and space rock genres.
For fans of Hawkwind or collectors of rock memorabilia, Bring Me The Head of Yuri Gagarin offers a glimpse into a pivotal moment in the band’s history, capturing the untamed spirit of one of their live performances, despite the less-than-ideal recording quality.
Abstract Records
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Gaga/In The Egg
Orgone Accumulator
Wage War
Urban Guerilla
Master Of The Universe
Welcome To The Future
Sonic Attack
Silver Machine
Yuri Gagarin (The First Man In Space Speaks To Us)
