ASTOUNDING SOUNDS, AMAZING MUSIC (1976)

They tossed Lemmy after a drug bust during a North American tour. Go figure. Pink Fairy/Eno sideman Paul Rudolph fills in on bass and Calvert returns to the fold, writing and singing with the songs instead of in between the songs.

An odd odd album, filled with almost (Pink) Floydian instrumentals by Rudolph and House and Powell, a crass attempt at crossover success with the (Pink) Floydian Dave Gilmour mixed "Kerb Crawler" and two, count 'em, two, zippy Calvert/Brock compositions ("Steppenwolf" and "Reefer Madness") that make the thing worth owning.

Turner writes nil and is hard to hear in the proceedings. Months later he and Powell and Rudolph are ousted for formenting dissent and trying to play funky. This can definitely be referred to as the "Go Figure Period" of Hawkwind's development.

BLANGA SCORE: 4.