Track Listing

1. Space Shanty
2. Stranded
3. Mixed Up Man Of The Mountains
4. Driving To Amsterdam
5. Stargazers
6. Hollow Stone
7. Break The Chains
8. Mixed Up Man Of The Mountains (1)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #116162 in Music
• Released on: 2004-11-22
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered

Customer Reviews

Excellent example of early Hillage
Khan are a very early example of the Canterbury School of progressive rock, best known through bands such as Caravan, Hatfield and the North and National Health. Led by guitarist Steve Hillage who would later join Gong and enjoy a successful solo career, this was his first important group. So it is surprising that his songwriting skills are so matured and developed. Also, his trademark soaring, ecstatic guitar style is also much in evidence here. The combination of that and guest keyboardist Dave Stewart's fuzzy, distorted organ is something really special to behold. The pair would team up again on Hillage's first solo album "Fish Rising", some of the material of which was destined for a potential second Khan album.

"Space Shanty" is full of complex time signatures, highly melodic songwriting and wonderful playing. This is English psychedelic progressive rock at its very best. Inventive, wistful, remarkably fresh sounding without being indulgent or pretentious. Definitely of it's time, but there is still much to admire and enjoy here.

It's clear to see why Hillage became such a star, within Gong and through his late 70's solo albums like "L", "Motivation Radio" and "Green". He is such an individual guitarist and the positivity generated through his singing, lyrics and music is charmingly disarming and so easily draws you in. Half of the tracks are over 7 minutes in length, giving ample room for the band to fully explore and develop musical ideas within the framework of each song. There is something about Dave Stewart when he lets rip on one of his thick, fuzzy organ solos that always makes me smile. He was without doubt one of the best keyboard players of that time. Special mention must be given about one of the bonus tracks, "Break the Chain" which is an excellent unreleased recording from earlier incarnation of the band. This has a wonderful, gorgeous chorus and is a truly great find.

Only ever available before as an expensive Japanese import, this is such a welcome release and another top notch remastering job from the Eclectic Records team with great sound and detailed informative notes in the accompanying booklet rounding off this lovingly restored album. "Space Shanty" has been released together with the first two albums from Dave Stewart's Egg, which are also highly recommended. With all those and the just released Hatfield and the North archive CD, "Hatwise Choice", this has meant a bumper crop of excellent stuff for not only aficionados of the Canterbury Sound, but for anyone seriously interested in some of the best examples of quirky English progressive rock from the golden age.

khan Space Shanty
I bought this album when first released and on first hearing I thought "my god what have I bought". But very soon, it became one of my favourite albums. This is the re-released version with extra tracks, so even better, presumably. It is nothing short of brilliant, clever, unbelievable at times; how they managed to write such music and more still remember it all, is a mystery to me. If you like/love Steve Hillage, National Health, Egg, Hatfield etc, I am sure you will love this (in time); it is for me better and more palatable than "Fish Rising" (Stewart & Hillage). Dave Stewart (keyboards) is brill as always. Check it out you won't be disappointed. Enough said!

How could I forget?
They say you should never go back because it often leads to disappointment. Well, in this case they (whoever they are!) are wrong! It has been many years since I had last heard this album, my copy vanishing during a house move. I have my suspicions, but I digress. Anyway, with the release of this re-mastered version it was just too good to miss.

And it has been well worth the wait. All the elements that grew into the later Hillage solo albums and, yes, even System 7, are here in embryonic form, but there is nothing embryonic about Steve's guitar playing. It's tight yet free-flowing, even joyous. The other members of the band shouldn't be overlooked though. Nick Greenwood (bass), Eric Peachey (drums) and Dave Stewart (keyboards) all play their part, and the production is first-class. A lot of current bands could learn a thing or two from this album.

One final comment. Where has "Break the Chains" being hiding all these years? What a little gem! I haven't bought a single in years, but if this was released I'd have to buy it! How about it Decca?