"Alien 4" is the twentieth studio album by the English space rock band Hawkwind, released in 1995. At the end of 1994, the band, consisting of guitarist Dave Brock, bassist Alan Davey, and drummer Richard Chadwick, felt they needed more visual showmanship. Ron Tree, who had experience in the English free-festival scene, joined the group, and guitarist Jerry Richards, also from the free-festival circuit, began contributing to live performances and recording sessions.
This new lineup embarked on a 13-date tour of North America in April 1995 and recorded a session for BBC Radio 1 on July 27 at Maida Vale Studios. The album was recorded at Rockfield Studios during the summer, and an EP titled Area S4 featuring a "Roswell Mix" of "Alien (I Am)" was released. "Death Trap" is a re-recording of a song from their 1978 album PXR5, while "Wastelands" reinterprets "Wastelands Of Sleep" from their 1988 album The Xenon Codex. "Are You Losing Your Mind?" reworks "The Iron Dream" from their 1977 album Quark, Strangeness and Charm, incorporating new spoken words.
The album cover, created by Alan Arthurs, questions the nature of alien existence and the human race's relationship with nature. Arthurs was part of the band's crew and had previously worked on covers for albums like Electric Tepee and Love in Space. The band promoted the album with a 13-date UK tour in October, followed by seven dates in Europe. The concert at the Colston Hall in Bristol on October 19 was filmed and released as the album Love in Space and the video Love in Space. The group also appeared on VH1's Under the Bridge on April 14, 1996.
