Space Shanty is notable for being the recorded debut of Steve Hillage, the renowned progressive guitarist. Considering that the band included keyboard virtuoso Dave Stewart, then with Egg, Khan was a one-off with quite a pedigree. The music, which is a bluesier, harder rocking take on the basic Canterbury style, is mostly very good. The work itself is almost entirely composed by Hillage, and demonstrates some similarity to Fish Rising, his first solo album.