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Hawkestrel SpaceXmas Review by Gary Hill This was released last year, but I got it too late to review it in our December issue. So, I've been holding it until this one. Hawkestrel is a project led by Alan Davey, and the group has a cool space rock sound. This set of Christmas music seems to stretch the limits of that sound in some different directions. It's an entertaining set that features a number of guest musicians including Glenn Hughes, Nigel Potter, Rick Wakeman, Robbie Krieger, Nik Turner a posthumous performance from Huw Lloyd-Langton and more. This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2021 Volume 6. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2021.

Track by Track Review

Oh Holy Night This comes in gradually. The cut has a real soulful groove to it. The music gets proggier further down the road, but overall this song doesn't really wander far. Glenn Hughes provides the vocals on this.

We Three Kings Now this powers in with some serious space rock sound. The melodies are instantly recognizable, but the hard-edged concept is a new angle on the familiar. This instrumental really rocks.

It’s A Wonderful (Funny Old) Life Sleigh bells give way to space keyboards and picked guitar (Huw Lloyd-Langton) as this number starts. It's another instrumental tune, and it works well building on those opening themes.

Silent Night An instrumental space rocking take on the holiday classic, I like this a lot.

Seasons The sounds of nature bring this cut into being. A psychedelic kind of groove rises upward to begin the song. As vocals come in over the top that psychedelic edge is maginified. The cur fires out into smoking hot prog jamming after a time. This is spacey, melodic and quite cool.

Little Drummer Boy A space rocking instrumental take on another holiday classic, this is a driving and effective piece of music. It features sitar played by Robbie Krieger.

Für Kirsty Sleigh bells return at the start of this cut. Intricate acoustic guitar rises upward as a mellower space arrangement builds around it.

Ein Weihnachliches Lustobjekt There is an 80s electronic music kind of rhythm section as this starts. Once the processed vocal comes across, it's obvious that it's intentional as this sounds so much like Kraftwerk that it's scary.

O Come All Ye Faithful A melodic prog meets space jam is on the menu here. This is another instrumental take on a holiday classic. Rick Wakeman provides the keyboards on this number.

Jingle Bells Here we get some seriously driving instrumental space rock. This is another classy tune.

Hallelujah More of a traditional piece, I like this, but it's not a standout.

Twelve Daze Of Drinxmas A hard rocking space number, this is playful and fun. As you might guess from the title, this is all about alcoholic celebrations. Nigel Potter provides vocals and guitar, while Nik Turner adds flute to the mix.

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