Road to Utopia (album)
| Road to Utopia | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2018 | |||
| Genre | Space rock | |||
| Label | Cherry Red | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Hawkwind chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Classic Rock |    [1] |
| Mojo | [2] |
| Uncut | [3] |
| The Wire | [4] |
Road to Utopia is the thirty-first album by space rock band Hawkwind, released in 2018. It features new acoustic versions of the band's 1970s' repertoire with two new compositions.
The group's line-up had stabilised for some time with guitarist/singer Dave Brock, drummer Richard Chadwick, singer Mr Dibs and bassist Niall Hone being joined by bassist Haz Wheaton and guitarist Magnus Martin .
They had toured Britain in March through May 2017 in support of their Into the Woods album,[5] which featured an opening set performed acoustically. The Roundhouse main show from 26 May was issued as Hawkwind At The Roundhouse as a 2CD/DVD boxed-set on 8 December,[6] and the group made a promotional appearance playing an acoustic version of "Ascent" on Matthew Wright's Channel 5 daily morning television programme The Wright Stuff on 1 December.
The band started work recording this acoustic set in the studio when Brock had a chance meeting with Mike Batt at the US Embassy while both were applying for a travel visa.[7] Batt joined the project adding string and horn arrangements. Eric Clapton, who had been a teenage friend of Brock's prior to his rise to fame, contributed to the session alongwith their former sax player, Jez Huggett. Road to Utopia was released on 14 September 2018.[8]
A one-off concert at the London Palladium on 4 November billed as In Search of Utopia – Infinity and Beyond with Batt conducting Docklands Sinfonia was scheduled, but demand lead to an extended UK tour in October and November with a guest appearance from Arthur Brown and support from The Blackheart Orchestra.
Track listing[edit]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Quark Strangeness & Charm" | 4:32 | |
| 2. | "The Watcher" | Ian Kilmister | 5:05 |
| 3. | "We Took the Wrong Step Years Ago" | Brock | 4:56 |
| 4. | "Flying Doctor" |
| 5:51 |
| 5. | "Psychic Power" |
| 5:19 |
| 6. | "Hymn to the Sun" | Magnus Martin | 2:51 |
| 7. | "The Age of the Micro Man" |
| 5:31 |
| 8. | "Intro the Night" | Martin | 2:11 |
| 9. | "Down Through the Night" | Brock | 7:11 |
Personnel[edit]
Hawkwind
- Dave Brock – vocals, guitar, keyboards, synthesiser, harmonica
- Magnus Martin – vocals, guitar, keyboards, viola
- Niall Hone – bass guitar
- Richard Chadwick – drums, percussion, vocals
- Haz Wheaton – bass guitar
- Mr Dibs (Jonathan Darbyshire) – vocals
Additional musicians
- Mike Batt – piano on "The Watcher", orchestral arrangements
- Eric Clapton – guitar on "The Watcher"
- Jez Huggett – saxophone on "The Age of the Micro Man"
Charts[edit]
| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[9] | 24 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[10] | 44 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[11] | 9 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[12] | 2 |
References[edit]
- ^ Fortnam, Ian (September 2018). "Hawkwind – Road To Utopia album review". Classic Rock. p. 91.
- ^ "Hawkwind – Road To Utopia". Mojo. October 2018. p. 93.
- ^ "Hawkwind – Road To Utopia". Uncut. November 2018. p. 30.
- ^ "Hawkwind – Road To Utopia". The Wire. September 2018. p. 59.
- ^ "Into The Woods: Deluxe CD Edition". Cherry Red Records. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- ^ "Hawkwind At The Roundhouse: 2CD/1DVD Boxset". Cherry Red Records. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- ^ "Road To Utopia Press Release". Cherry Red Records. 6 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- ^ "Hawkwind: Road To Utopia". Cherry Red Records. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
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