Otherworld ~ Space Ritual

Space Ritual are a British space rock band, formed in 2000 fronted by Nik Turner, and composed principally of former Hawkwind members. They play a mix of early Hawkwind material and their own compositions.
1. The Return 00:00
2. Otherworld 01:43
3. Black Corridor 07:54
4. Bubbles 10:25
5. Communique II 18:00
6. Ritual Of The Ravaged Earth 19:37
7. ASDF 22:58
8. Sonic Savages 24:07
9. Droid Love 30:29
10. Time Crime 34:12
11. Arrival In Utopia 38:33
12. Atomik 40:53
13. The Riddle 45:53
14. Notes From A Cold Planet 52:40
15. Walking Backwards 57:05

Review by Julie Knispel 2001
Being a Hawkwind fan these days almost feels like being a Marillion fan at the end of the 1980’s. With two decidedly different factions, one led by founder Dave Brock and maintaining the Hawkwind name, and the other led by founder Nik Turner under the name Space Ritual, fans have the benefit of twice as much music while perhaps bemoaning the fact that the two men simply can no longer get along.
Nik Turner is joined by a large coterie of ex-Hawks on this first Space Ritual studio album. Dave Anderson contributes bass, acoustic and electric guitars, Terry Ollis handles things behind the kit, Del Dettmar plays axe synth, and Mick Slattery layers on still more acoustic and electric guitar. The band is filled out with John Greves on various synths and keyboards and Thomas Crimble on guitars and keyboards. Both have connections to the Hawkwind mothership, with Crimble being a member of the main band from 1970-1971, while Greves played with Robert Calvert on the legendary Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters project.
Many of the traditional Hawkwind elements are on fine display here; short instrumental or ambient passages between songs, spoken word and poetry performances, elements of Middle Eastern and tribal musical influences. Of course, having Nik Turner as front man assures that sax and flute will be displayed prominently on almost every track, and his chops have not been so well used in years.