🛸 UFO 2: Flying — Full Album Guide
📀 Tracklist
- Silver Bird
- Star Storm
- Prince Kajuku / The Coming of Prince Kajuku
- Flying
- The Unknown Journey (Part 1)
- The Unknown Journey (Part 2)
🎤 Credits & Line-up
-
UFO – Members:
- Phil Mogg – Vocals
- Mick Bolton – Guitar
- Pete Way – Bass
- Andy Parker – Drums
Production:
- Produced by Guy Fletcher
- Released on Beacon Records (UK)
- Recorded in London, 1971
🎶 Musical Style & Sound
UFO 2: Flying continues and expands the band’s psychedelic/space rock identity, pushing further into long-form, experimental compositions.
Key characteristics:
- Extended tracks with improvisational, jam-based structures
- Strong space rock atmosphere with cosmic themes
- Heavy use of guitar effects, delay, and reverb
- Blend of psychedelia, blues rock, and early progressive elements
- Minimal focus on radio-friendly formats, emphasizing exploration and mood
Compared to UFO 1, this album is more ambitious and expansive, leaning deeper into progressive and experimental territory.
🎧 Standout Tracks
- “Silver Bird” – Catchy and melodic opener with a strong groove
- “Prince Kajuku / The Coming of Prince Kajuku” – Dynamic suite with shifting sections and moods
- “Flying” – Epic 26-minute track, centerpiece of the album
- “Star Storm” – Energetic and spacey, with driving rhythm
- “The Unknown Journey” – Atmospheric and exploratory closing pieces
🤓 Fun Facts
- The track “Flying” runs over 26 minutes, making it one of the band’s longest recordings.
- Like their debut, the album found its strongest audience in Japan and continental Europe.
- The band was still deeply influenced by the late 1960s psychedelic movement.
- This would be the final album featuring guitarist Mick Bolton.
🧠 Trivia
- The album is often considered a cult favorite among space rock enthusiasts.
- Its long compositions place it closer to early progressive rock experimentation.
- UFO would soon abandon this style in favor of hard rock and heavy metal.
- Tracks like “Flying” showcase the band’s live jam-oriented approach in the studio.
💡 Did You Know?
- The band’s early space rock phase is sometimes compared to Hawkwind and early Pink Floyd.
- Despite limited mainstream success, these albums helped build UFO’s dedicated international fanbase.
- The shift away from this sound in later years makes UFO 2 a unique snapshot of their experimental roots.
🧬 Cultural & Musical Legacy
UFO 2: Flying stands as a bold and expansive exploration of space rock, capturing UFO at their most experimental and free-form.
Although the band would later achieve fame in a different style, this album remains a cult classic, valued for its cosmic atmosphere, long-form compositions, and psychedelic ambition.
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UFO Full Discography: Complete Guide to Albums & Covers Collection (1970--2017)
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