Test-Tube Conceived

calvert's final solo album may be his most mature and "serious" effort. the music is minimal and mostly electronic. a somewhat somber tone throughout dominates as he explores the topic in a way similar to how Philip K. Dick would have in one of his novels.it's not much of a "rock record" and it's not choc-full of bob's humor but it's a rewarding listen and shows some growth as an artist from his earlier works. a must have for serious fans.

This was Calvert's last album before his untimely death of a heart attack in 1988. All the songs are good, some being better than others. The title track is probably the most catchy, along with Telekenesis. This album is less "rock" than Calvert's previous albums, and more laid back. There are very few guitar solos or instrumentals, and I believe all the drums are electronic. It is a pretty mellow album overall, but very atmospheric, and of course Calvert's lyrics are thought provoking and witty as always. Buy "Hype" first if you don't have any other Calvert albums, but if you already know you like Calvert's solo music then you should definitely buy "Test Tube Conceived".

To my delight,'Test Tube Conceived' was actually better than I had expected. If fact, I'll say that it's 'nearly' as good as his landmark 'Captain Lockheed...' reissue lp (see my review). This was Calvert's final solo outing prior to his death in 1988. Calvert's lyrics here are surprisingly witty and sharp. The music is very well written. Tunes I liked the most were "I Hear Voices", the title track "Test Tube Conceived", the catchy "Telekenesis" and "On Line". This title may be hard to find, but it's worth the effort.

If you know who Hawkwind are, then you know who Robert Calvert is. You may have heard (or may even own) the great "Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters" album, with such famous guest starts as Lemmy, Paul Rudolph, Brian Eno, and Twink (not to mention Dave Brock, Nik Turner, Del Dettmar, and Simon King of Hawkwind).Let me tell you, I like "Test Tube Conceived" much better, and here's why:The music is much more cutting edge. It really picks up where "Quark, Strangeness and Charm" and the Hawklords album "25 Years On" left off. There was a hint of this album on "Freq," with the song "Acid Rain," but where that song was just a tasty morsel this album is a meal unto itself.If you ever want to get more than a glimpse into Robert Calvert's mental illness (which is well documented), then there isn't a better piece than the song "I Hear Voices." Most performers would sing something like this for purely entertainment purposes; I suspect that Calvert was more than half-serious when he recorded the song.He was way ahead of his time. Songs like "On Line" and "Thanks to the Scientists" are now coming true.Really, you need to own this one if you're into this kind of thing at all.

Clever lyrics, great tunes and a nice futuristic minimilist production.If you like other Calvert albums, get this. If you like this get the other Calvert albums!

Good dark fun

Love & miss Robert Calvert, very inspiring atmospheric lyrics & sounds. Simple & streamlined production. More electro-poppy than his other material, but in a good way