Distant Horizons
Encyclopedia
Distant Horizons is the twenty-first studio album
by the English
space rock
group Hawkwind
, released in 1997
.
Towards the end of 1996, Jerry Richards, who had been contributing lead guitar to some live dates and recording sessions, joined the group permanently. Disatisfied with the musical direction of the group, long standing bassist Alan Davey
chose to leave at the end of 1996. His bass playing duties were picked up by singer Ron Tree. Rastafarian
toaster Captain Rizz and keyboardist Julian "Crum" Crimmins began contributing to live dates, although neither would appear on this record.
The album's release was preceded by the "Love In Space" EP, although the lead track differs remarkably from the album version, having vocals and being produced by Zeus B. Held
.
The group undertook a 32 date UK tour from September through to November to promote the album, followed by three Netherlands/Belgium dates. Some shows were recorded and issued as In Your Area
and Hawkwind 1997
, and some shows were professionally filmed by punkcast
, but as yet unreleased.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
space rock
Space rock
Space rock is a subgenre of rock music; the term originally referred to a group of early, mostly British, 1970s progressive and psychedelic rock bands such as Hawkwind and Pink Floyd, characterised by slow, lengthy instrumental passages dominated by electric organs, synthesizers, experimental...
group Hawkwind
Hawkwind
Hawkwind are an English rock band, one of the earliest space rock groups. Their lyrics favour urban and science fiction themes. They are also a noted precursor to punk rock and now are considered a link between the hippie and punk cultures....
, released in 1997
1997 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy...
.
Towards the end of 1996, Jerry Richards, who had been contributing lead guitar to some live dates and recording sessions, joined the group permanently. Disatisfied with the musical direction of the group, long standing bassist Alan Davey
Alan Davey (musician)
Alan Davey is best known as the former bassist with Hawkwind. He is now the bass player and vocalist for Gunslinger as well as Hawklords, Meads of Asphodel, and Thunor.-Early musical career:...
chose to leave at the end of 1996. His bass playing duties were picked up by singer Ron Tree. Rastafarian
Rastafari movement
The Rastafari movement or Rasta is a new religious movement that arose in the 1930s in Jamaica, which at the time was a country with a predominantly Christian culture where 98% of the people were the black descendants of slaves. Its adherents worship Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia , as God...
toaster Captain Rizz and keyboardist Julian "Crum" Crimmins began contributing to live dates, although neither would appear on this record.
The album's release was preceded by the "Love In Space" EP, although the lead track differs remarkably from the album version, having vocals and being produced by Zeus B. Held
Zeus B. Held
Zeus B. Held is a German music producer and musician, known for his work in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. He was involved with several artists of the Krautrock, Disco and New Wave era, such as Birth Control, Rockets, Gina X Performance, Dead Or Alive, John Foxx, Fashion and Men Without Hats on their...
.
The group undertook a 32 date UK tour from September through to November to promote the album, followed by three Netherlands/Belgium dates. Some shows were recorded and issued as In Your Area
In Your Area
Hawkwind in Your Area is the twenty-second live/studio album by the English space rock group Hawkwind.The live side was recorded during the group's 1997 tour to promote the Distant Horizons album...
and Hawkwind 1997
Hawkwind 1997
Live 1997 is a 1998 live album by the English space rock group Hawkwind.It was recorded at various shows during the group's 1997 tour to promote the Distant Horizons album.-Track listing:...
, and some shows were professionally filmed by punkcast
Punkcast
Punkcast.com is an online video site that covers the NYC underground music scene. The content is mainly complete songs from live performances in the city's clubs and other locations...
, but as yet unreleased.
Track listing
- "Distant Horizons" (Dave BrockDave BrockDavid Anthony "Dave" Brock is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He plays electric guitar, synthesizer, bass and oscillators. He is best known as being one of the founders and musical focus of the English space rock group Hawkwind...
, Richard Chadwick) – 5:19 - "Phetamine Street" (Ron Tree) – 5:42
- "Waimea Canyon Drive" (Brock) – 4:53
- "Alchemy" (Jerry Richards, Chadwick) – 3:14
- "Clouded Vision" (Brock) – 3:49
- "Reptoid Vision" (Tree) – 7:39
- "Population Overload" (Brock, Chadwick) – 6:51
- "Wheels" (Richards, Chadwick) – 6:24
- "Kauai" (Brock) / "Taxi for Max" (Brock) – 2:51
- "Love in Space" (Brock) – 4:51
Personnel
- Dave BrockDave BrockDavid Anthony "Dave" Brock is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He plays electric guitar, synthesizer, bass and oscillators. He is best known as being one of the founders and musical focus of the English space rock group Hawkwind...
– electric guitar, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Jerry Richards – electric guitar
- Ron Tree – vocals, bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Richard Chadwick – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Release history
- November 1997: Emergency Broadcast System RecordsEmergency Broadcast System RecordsEmergency Broadcast System Records was a record label setup in UK in the early 1990s by Hawkwind and Doug Smith.-External links:* - full catalogue...
, UK, CD (EBS139) - 30 May 2011: Atomhenge (Cherry RedCherry RedCherry Red is a London-based independent record label formed in 1978.-History:Cherry Red grew from the rock promotion company founded in 1971 to promote rock concerts at the Malvern Winter Gardens...
) Records, ATOMCD1028, UK CD