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Here you have it... Hawkwind's Nik Turner fronting, Judge Trev (Inner City Unit) on lead guitar, Tommy Grenas who went on to form the mighty Farflung on rhythm guitar along with Paul Fox on Bass, the stunning percussionist Jo Blake, Inner City Unit's Commander Jim Hawkman on Synthesizer, and the Royal College of Music's Rik Welsh on trumpet. "Trumpet in Space Rock" you say, yes folks, this is how it's done. The first thing you will realise about the original Space Ritual, is that they are a combo which sets rather than follows trends. The band immediately kick in to the Judge Trev/Turner penned classic "Watching the Grass Grow", a track frequently covered by and probably more associated with the legendary Hawkwind. This album is recorded live from the Freiberg desk mix and you can hear that the sound-man is adjusting the levels during this first track as Space Ritual power through the classic song. What is noticeable is the up-front riffing by Tommy Grenas and Paul Fox, around which the song hangs - a taste of Farflung to come. Next the classic sound-scape "Sonic Attack" with Nik Turner commanding the stage as the disturbing scenario of a future nightmare war is enacted. Next "Thoth", shades of ancient Egyptian Gods and the Great Pyramid where Turner recorded his famous 70's Xitintoday album...a song which gets your foot tapping with its very danceable rhythm. Then typically Space Ritual go off on one of their musical tangents and tackle a folk tune, "Yea we can play anything"...and the fans like it. Then the Calvert power-house classic "Ejection" which after a break for tape change is followed by Brainstorm. Space Ritual are now cooking! A version of Turners "Masters of the Universe" and the X-Factor kicks in as Judge Trev, Tommy Grenas, Paul Fox, and Blake power Nik Turner's top lines off the face of the earth, leaving the German fans in an ecstasy of cheers screams and bliss. Then the mark of Inner City Unit makes itself felt. Toying with musical genres like a cat playing with a mouse, the combo switch to a very cool version of Roland Kirk's "Serenade to a Cuckoo". The horn master, Rick Welsh, shows off his jazz roots with a soaring solo, and the Judge Trev, his mastery of modern chord inversions, as the crowd continue to show their vociferous appreciation. By now we have reached another place in space and time...Visions of Tommy Grenas and Paul Fox mounted upon their rampaging War Elephants, trampling the Orcs to the riff of "Orgone Accumulator"...The Thunder Rider, Nik Turner, raising his Thunder Horn to smite the tentacled demons who are by now fleeing for their lives... as the LIGHT comes to Freiburg. Nik Turner introduces Space Ritual and thanks the Blessed Ones for taking part in this wonderful experience before a new thirteen minute up-tempo version of "Silver Machine", complete with new lyrics, leaves the Freiburg converts screaming for more... ..and you know, this is a very danceable album – ideal for parties?
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