“Brainstorm” is, and for 55 years has always been, one of the key songs in Hawkwind’s live repertoire. Barely one incarnation of that ever-changing leviathan has gone without playing the song in concert, and whether it’s played short and sweet, or allowed to speed on forever, its very presence sends the audience home happy every time.
The song was written by Hawkwind cofounder Nik Turner while sitting on a plane to Paris, “waiting for take-off,” as the lyric says, before setting out on its own magnificent course. And when Hawkestrel mainman (and former Hawkwind bassist and songwriter) Alan Davey was first casting around for songs to include on his band’s latest album, even he probably wondered why he’d never attempted it before.
Or maybe he had, and just not told anyone… the presence of the late Turner speaks to that. And when you add Simon House (violin and keyboards for Hawkwind between 1974-1977) and Del Dettmar (electronics, 1971-1974), is it any wonder that it’s going to take you back to Hawkwind’s distant past, even as it shakes the foundations of the future. Five minutes of brain damage start here.
”‘Brainstorm’ is a brilliant riff,” says Alan. “Nik Turner wrote a classic there! It’s one of those riffs one just can’t get tired of playing. But I knew I had to do something a little different with it, so I Motörhead’ed it up a bit and add some of Simon House’s violin making it a more unique version. Luckily I had Nik’s vocals to add too, which kept it authentic. Best version since Space Ritual, I reckon.”
SINGLE: https://orcd.co/hawkestrel_brainstorm
But wait! Cover Ya Tracks is more, far more, than a one song wonder. Across 11 tracks, Davey and a variety of guests tackle further Hawkwind classics “Hall Of The Mountain Grill” and “Children Of The Sun,” and they keep it in the family with the late Robert Calvert’s “The Greenfly and the Rose,” with vocals by author and poet Michael Moorcock!
Fellow primal Hawkvets on board include guitarist Huw Lloyd Langton and drummer Ginger Baker, reprising Cream‘s “Sunshine Of Your Love.” But Hawkestrel step dramatically further afield, bringing Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, Cream and the Beach Boys to the party as well, alongside a guest list that reaches from Mick Taylor (John Mayall, Rolling Stones) to Keith Emerson (The Nice, Emerson Lakes & Palmer) and beyond.
”I’ve always wanted to do my own version of ‘Rainbow Demon’,” Alan continues, “I’ve always heard different versions of it in my head so this covers album was perfect to fulfill that for me. I also never understood why ‘Children of the Sun’ (another Nik Turner composition) was never done live when Lemmy was in the band. I’ve heard my version in my head for years, so it had to be done too. I reckon I nailed the Lemmy styled version of it. It’s such a good song, it warranted my doing it.”
Journey beyond the 11 tracks that make up the album, and there’s further evidence of Hawkestrel’s dynamic vision to be found in their last single, a version of Melanie’s “Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)” that features Melanie herself. That track will be appearing on Melanie’s own Friends & Co album later in 2026. For now, catch the single – and, if you’re play listing Cover Ya Tracks, then throw “Lay Down” into the mix as well. It makes perfect sense.
- LAY DOWN: https://orcd.co/melaniealandavey_laydowncandlesintherain
- CD/VINYL/CASS: https://cleorecs.com/search?q=hawkestrel+cover+ya+tracks
- DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/hawkestrel_coveryatracks
Track listing
- Hall of The Mountain Grill feat. Simon House
- Brainstorm feat. Nik Turner, Simon House & Del Dettmar
- Rainbow Demon feat. Mick Taylor
- Sunshine Of Your Love feat. Ginger Baker
- Children Of The Sun feat. Nik Turner, Simon House and Del Dettmar
- Subterraneans feat. Robert Calvert & Huw Lloyd-Langton
- Black Dog feat. Keith Emerson
- Starcruiser feat. Michael Moorcock
- The Greenfly And The Rose feat. Michael Moorcock
- The Cairene Purse feat. Michael Moorcock
- Good Vibrations
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