While the big names of the swinging London were attending events like the Isle of Wight and were signed by their labels, Hawkwind were a true underground band used to play on a truck, under a bridge or wherever they wanted to, usually for free.This debut album is still highly influenced by the blues revival as it's evident from the west- coast acid blues of "Hurry On Sundown" which opens it. Dave Brock's harmonica is not too dissimilar from John Mayall's and the instrumental coda is a standard blues, but just from the second track it's clear that this is not a blues-revival band. The intro of "The Reason Is?" is one of the most floydian things of that period. Floyd were already evolved, it's the same year of Atom Heart Mother, and Hawkwind release this track which sounds like the middle section of Interstellar Overdrive, or the beginning of Set The Controls for The Heart of the Sun. Let's say that Floyd were not alone actually in making this kind of psych. This kind of sounds was familiar with several other bands/artists including Arzachel and Twink.
"Be Yourself" is the first track with a non radio-friendly duration. It's probably the only time in the History that a drummer is mimic of Nick Mason. While Nik Turner's sax adds a jazzy touch to the track and later bass and guitar move to a more familiar zone, the drums seem to come directly from A Saucerful of Secrets. The last minutes are a reprise of the intro based on three chords repeated seamlessly.
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