Nektar ~ England

Remember the Future (1973)

I recently read someone comparing Remember the Future to Jethro Tull's Thick as a Brick. I thought that was very insightful. He was clear in stating the music wasn't similar, but rather the idea of two side long cuts forming one composition, and from veteran bands. Both who seeked out a new musical landscape for themselves. As noted on the Journey To the Centre of the Eye review, Nektar were very much a UK styled space rock group. With some German sensibilities, but not a Krautrock band really. I have yet to review A Tab in the Ocean but my recollection is that Nektar was beginning to turn the dial from space rock to prog rock, and likely hit their peak in doing so. They are now on the prog rock side of the lake. Many point to Pink Floyd as an influence here, but I just don't hear it. Floyd never had this kind of urgency in their music. Or at least not since their 60s psychedelic freakout days.

I appreciate the focus on songwriting here, and I like the way the album flows, though it isn't really coherent. I don't hear a central theme, the music just goes from one idea to another, similar to modern prog metal bands.

The more generalist RYM has this as Nektar's highest rated album. Interesting then, that the two prog leaning sites Gnosis and ProgArchives favor A Tab in the Ocean. I'm not sure where I land, though it's almost certain Tab will be my favorite too. Second place? At the current time I'm thinking both Journey Eye and Recycled get the edge here.

Ownership: 1973 Bellaphon (LP). Gatefold with lyrics and photos. Back cover has recording details. Acquired in 1990.

1990; 2002; 9/26/26 (review)

 

Recycled (1975)

I've referred to this album a couple of times in my reviews below. Essentially Recycled is a progressive rock comeback album, done at a time when such things would have been rare. It was to be a one-off relapse, as it were, and a darn good one at that. Starting with a symphony of tympani, Nektar makes no bones about the fact that they intend on going all-in for prog rock for the memories. Side 2) takes on an earlier outlook from the band, exploring space rock themes with a touch of funk, giving its only nod to commercialism. 

Ownership: 1975 Bacillus (LP). Poster insert. Acquired in 2015.

First copy: 1976 Passport (LP). Acquired in 1992.

1992; 12/31/12; 11/19/15; 12/16/25 (review)

Journey to the Centre of the Eye (1971)  

Given that Nektar were formed in Germany and the imagery they put forth on their debut, I have a tendency to lump this album in with Krautrock. As I mentioned on Emtidi's Saat album the other day, you know Krautrock when you hear it. And Journey to the Centre of the Eye isn't it. Later albums are more obvious on this front (being more overtly progressive rock), but the debut is more experimental. In a similar way that same era Pink Floyd and Hawkwind are. This is space rock through and through. Perhaps to its detriment. Some of the downtime portions could use some of that Krautrock atmosphere that's missing. It's still a darn good listen with 'Burn Out My Eyes' being a particular highlight. In fact Side 2 does overshadow the flip, leaving a strong impression afterward. Before last night, I would have argued that Journey to the Centre of the Eye is my favorite Nektar. Something tells me one of their next two will be now.

CD includes their 1972 single 'Do You Believe in Magic' and '1-2-3-4'. Both good tunes but not enough to keep the CD for. Both of these were extended on the Sounds Like This album.

Ownership: 1972 Bacillus (LP). Gatefold. Acquired in 1988.

1//88; 2/13/07; 8/26/23 (review)

Down to Earth (1974)

As with Magic is a Child, I hadn't actually heard Down to Earth until now. Or I probably did in snippets and walked away in disgust. This is exactly the type of album that would not have appealed to me at age 21, or 31, maybe even 41. But at 51, I hear it in a different way. Managing expectations is everything, and it's not unreasonable for someone to approach this expecting to hear the sounds of the album before (Remember the Future) or after (Recycled). In fact, the latter album probably has more to do with the negative impression in modern times, since it was rare for a band to make a "comeback" like that in the 1970s. Just about every progressive rock band found their way to commercialism over time. 1974 was perhaps a bit early to jump the shark as it were, but in retrospect this album was actually ahead of its time, though I'm sure audiences back then were quite baffled by it. So in the end, had the band renamed themselves Ratken for this album, it probably would have been received better.

And after hearing it intently, I was quite surprised at how progressive it actually is. It's tighter and doesn't possess the long stretches of progressive space rock, so on the surface it seems less complex. 'Nelly the Elephant' is startling in that it sounds more like a horn rock track from 1970. It reminded me of the UK band The Greatest Show on Earth actually (circus themes?). 'Early Morning Clown' wouldn't be out of place on a Jonesy or Fruupp album. And 'That's Life' sounds like an outtake from Yes' Fragile session. In fact, only the relatively dull song 'Little Boy' ended up being a slight disappointment. This is a very good album to my ears, and I suspect will always be misunderstood. I can see I'm of the minority opinion on this one. OK, fair enough.

Ownership: 1974 Bacillus (LP). Gatefold. Quad. Acquired in 2023.

1/23/16 (review); 8/5/23

Man in the Moon (1980)

With Magic is a Child, I am admittedly somewhat an apologist for Nektar, stating it's a fine AOR album - with mild progressive tendencies - typical of the late 70s. Man in the Moon, on the other hand, pretty much blows from beginning to end. Why a band with a progressive space rock / prog rock background, needed to take sell-out radio era Supertramp and Journey as a blueprint is anyone's guess. Though the answer is obvious of course. Desperation. As in desperate to stay-in-the-game. And because of that, history will penalize this pathetic pandering to the masses. There are flashes of their old selves, especially on 'Torraine', but otherwise this sounds like a 50 year old boxer who says he has one last fight in him. "No... you don't". And this was the end of Nektar for 21 years.

Source: 2006 WHD (CD). Papersleeve edition.

5/17/16 (review)

Magic is a Child (1977)

Well, believe it or not, I'd never heard this record until now. And probably never would have, were it not a throw-in to another LP deal I just purchased. Good thing. Had I heard this 30, or even 20 years ago, I would have dismissed it out of hand. But with my ears today (oh these ears, I tell ya...), I hear exactly what Nektar was going for and honestly they did a great job at it!

And what they were going for was FM radio airplay. For whatever reason, the radio guys didn't feel there were any hits here. But I disagree, as seven out of the nine songs here could have easily caught on with the 1977 crowd. So yes, Nektar are a long way from their (recent) progressive rock past - and even further from their space rock roots. But this is still some fine sophisticated AOR, or what we used to call "pomp". A precursor to the neo-prog (later interpretation of said movement) sound honestly.

Good album if bands like Styx, Citadel-era Starcastle, City Boy, and others of its ilk appeal to you.

Ownership: 1977 Polydor (LP). Acquired in 2015.

12/6/15 (review)

Nektar reformed in 2001 and have released an impressive seven albums since. Mostly to middling reviews, though my curiosity remains piqued. 

Also own: A Tab in the Ocean (both versions)

12/6/15 (new entry)