The Future Never Waits by Hawkwind

The Future Never Waits by Hawkwind, 2023 album

One of Hawkwind's best albums in my opinion, from a very prolific band that consistently holds its own.

A spacey triumph of synthesizers, extremely present alongside the electronics on this album, great percussion and Mellotron, for a sound tinged with punk, jazz, and even Beatles-esque influences, and whose finest qualities are found in the splendid interweaving of guitars, synthesizers, and bass, for an experimental and psychedelic mood.

- The title track immediately transports us to space with splendid synths and Mellotron. A truly spectacular 10 minutes.

- The End begins immediately with a punk-sounding turn; the interplay between synth guitar and bass is beautiful as the song transitions into the band's signature spacey sound, but with the driving bass that never lets up in its rock-like progression. Captivating!

- Aldous Huxley is a synth-dominated piece with a psychedelic atmosphere. It begins with voiceovers and then fades into deep sounds that serve as a prelude to the entrance of the beautiful piano, which plays with the synths. The voiceovers return, and it ends with such lightness. Beautiful!

- They Are So Easily Distracted, also over 10 minutes long, starts with an excellent jazz sound with great horns, jazz-fusion piano, and a great electric piano that enriches a space rock theme that is superseded by the synths, which glide over the song and together they continue in a great jazz-synth-electronic jam. A truly TOP piece.

- Rama (The Prophecy) is a sung piece that starts with a beautiful sound bordering on punk rock, with a nice energy to which the synths and the great guitar contribute greatly, until a completely synth-driven closing, the space journey continues. Beautiful!

- USB1 is a short track with a melody that feels soft, almost chillout-like, until the guitar solo kicks in, along with the drums that add emphasis. Beautiful!

- Outside of Time is a fantastic space jam with a truly captivating rhythmic base, over which the vocals and synths create a beautiful "song" immersed in electronic sounds.

- I'm Learning to Live Today is a tough piece, with a very '70s rock opening and a nice, decisive riff. The mood runs throughout the song, while the deep bass makes it hypnotic, like a sort of mantra. The synths at the end accentuate the oriental sound and give the song that space rock flavor that makes it unique. Very, Very Beautiful!

- "The Beginning" is a slow, enveloping, quasi-blues for much of its duration, with a tapestry of sounds that remind me of the songs of whales or distant sirens. It then shifts into a Beatles-esque mood, with beautiful vocals and a lovely melody. It closes with an acoustic guitar riff and vocals. Beautiful!

- "Trapped in This Modern Age" closes the album, a short and effective track. Electric piano and light synth sounds for an intro that immediately gives way to a decidedly rock song, also slightly Beatles-esque, about three minutes of a beautiful vintage rhythm, the lovely refrain "Trapped in This Modern Age" repeated several times and a bit of cheerfulness, a beautiful guitar solo, and a synth closing... It fits perfectly!

Ten pieces of great, very compelling and at times aggressive space rock, with melodic themes that alternate with long instrumental sections in a perfectly harmonized way.

An album that's also a journey through the beautiful galaxies depicted on the album covers (pictured).

Recommended!!!

Tracks

1. The Future Never Waits (10:15)
2. The End (4:10)
3. Aldous Huxley (4:37)
4. They Are So Easily Distracted (10:25)
5. Rama (The Prophecy) (8:29)
6. USB1 (3:56)
7. Outside of Time (7:37)
8. I'm Learning to Live Today (8:05)
9. The Beginning (8:21)
10. Trapped in This Modern Age (2:59)
Duration 68:54

Line-Up

- Dave Brock - guitar, keyboards, vocals
- Richard Chadwick - drums, vocals
- Doug MacKinnon - bass
- Tim "Thighpaulsandra" Lewis - theremin, SynthAxe
- Magnus Martin - keyboards, guitar, vocals