Take Me to Your Leader

by Greg PratoWhereas space rock pioneers Pink Floyd soon turned their back on the style they helped invent (and created another musical style: prog rock), fellow space rock pioneers Hawkwind have stayed put on their spaceship throughout the years. And they continue to do so, as evidenced by their 2006 release, Take Me to Your Leader, which manages to combine a modern edge with the all trippiness that abounds. The band -- still led by mustachioed singer/guitarist/songwriter Dave Brock -- continues to have a soft spot for soundscape detours ("Spirit of the Age"), isn't afraid to crank up the old Marshalls ("To Love a Machine"), and can morph into Radiohead-esque shapes in the blink of an eye ("Digital Nation"). While the majority of their space rock comrades have gone the way of the Death Star, Hawkwind continues to lean heavily on the hyperspace button all these years later.