Space Rock
tagStarted 1969Peak 1971-1977Last big hit still active
Located in 2 routes
Cosmic, hypnotic psychedelia built on droning riffs, throbbing bass pulses, synthesizer sweeps, oscillator whoosh and sci-fi themes of starships and outer space. Long, repetitive, trance-inducing grooves and effects-soaked guitar create the sensation of interstellar travel; often relentless and propulsive rather than gentle and floaty.
History
Pink Floyd's late-60s sonic experiments coined the template, but Hawkwind hard-wired it into a relentless live machine from 1971, fusing drone, synth and sci-fi spectacle. The style threaded through the 70s underground, influenced post-punk and 90s revivalists like Spiritualized and Loop, and remains a live touchstone for cosmic guitar bands.
Defining artists
Essential listening
Sources
- Wikipedia: Space rock
- AllMusic
- The Quietus
- Rolling Stone