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Robert Calvert

Hype — Songs Of Tom Mahler

Released 1981 on A‑Side
Reviewed by The Count, Oct 2005ce

Ah, Robert Calvert… ex-Hawkwind hippy poet. NOT QUITE!

Astonishingly, the album opens with a puntastic three-minute pop/rock’n’roll song, replete with Little Eva references. Sublime. 

“She asked me was I ever into Fellini and what did I think of Godard?
I tried to imagine her in a bikini and I didn’t find it was hard
She said have you seen that Fritz Lang movie where the hero loses his soul?
I said I didn’t think it sounded too groovy, I’m more into rock’n’roll”.

Perfect.

Thie is, of course, the soundtrack to the novel “Hype” where a musician is literally shot to stardom. Death sells.

So, as Mr. Mahler, Cap’n Bob gives us the wittiest, most melodic and FUN Hawkwind solo album you could possibly imagine, with a few darker moments thron in for good measure.

“Judge” Trev Thoms excels on guitar but perhaps the greatest moment is reserved for Nik turner, whos sax solo on “Evil Rock” is dirty beyond belief.

RIP Captain R. N. Calvert. We shall not see his like again.