Steve Hillage: Motivation Radio - 1977

 

The world viewed Steve Hillage as a long-haired, bearded proggy but he saw himself differently, wanting to be considered funky. Good luck with that one, Steve...

An album from 1977 that totally ignored contemporary punk trends, this one. It was “spacey rock”, with slightly annoying lyrics about the cosmos, leylines and saucers, sung in a weak, unconvincing voice by Hillage but redeemed by his excellent guitar work. 

The guy could play guitar but he sure couldn’t sing too good. It has a funky side to it, too, as Hillage had intended - apparently he had become irked by many prog rock followers’ dislike of funk and he became determined to go down the funk route. He didn’t consider himself to be a prog artist and he disliked the term and the fans’ musical snobbery. I have still categorised it as prog, however, due to its hippy-new age lyrics and Hillage’s long hair and hippy beard. If he had wanted to shake off the prog shackles and go funky he could have tried harder. It was not an album that would win over any punk or funk fans. The claim that he had “got the funk” was pushing things a bit. 

Both the Trampled Underfoot-esque Hello Dawn and Motivation are strong songs, somewhat blighted by Hillage’s voice. The latter, particularly, features some fine guitar and a vague funk-rock vibe but when Hillage sings “motivation is the key!” I just think “oh dear”. If you thought that Hillage’s voice was bad, though, then listen to the positively awful female vocal on Light In The Sky. Whoever it is, (keyboardist Miquette Giraudy) it is not good. Otherwise, it is a fine chunky rocker. 

Radio is a lengthy number with an introduction that goes on for ages. I like it, though, and feel a bit disappointed when the vocal arrives, its grating "radi-ohhhh” sound spoiling what was a nice instrumental groove. Wait One Moment sounds very Pink Floyd, to me. Hillage’s weird guitar sounds are excellent on this one. 

More fine guitar introduces the psychedelic-ish fuzzy rock of Saucer Surfing, a song that, despite its funky underbeat, still has many prog aspects to it. It also has a bit of a punky riffiness to it too. The bass is deep and funky, I have to say. 

Searching For The Spark is pure, organ-driven spacey prog, isn’t it? Not too much funk here. The same applies to the instrumental Octave Doctors, which highlights Hillage’s swirling guitar. 

The closer is a freaky, psychedelic guitar and funky bass cover of Not Fade Away, which is musically really good but is totally ruined by Hillage’s truly terrible vocal. This was about as far away from what I was listening to in 1977 as you could get, but experienced now, it has its good points, despite its glaring vocal limitations.