Album Review by Phil M
This release is dedicated and a tribute to Nektar’s founding member and drummer Ron Howden who died suddenly aged 78 in September last year.
As you might expect from a band formed back in 1969, prog rockers Nektar have a lengthy history with many personnel changes, and notwithstanding that, there was a lengthy hiatus between 1982 and 2000, they’ve released more than twenty albums.
While being a British band they were formed in Hamburg, Germany, bringing out their first concept album ‘’Journey to the Centre of the Eye’ in 1971 setting the tone for their approach which would often focus on interactions with extra-terrestrial beings. The first album was a continuous piece spanning two sides of the vinyl release.
In common with many of the contemporary prog rock bands at that time (Floyd, Yes, Gentle Giant) their focus was on musicianship with many of their compositions being lengthy.
Another science fiction-inspired album ‘Remember the Future’ in 1973 was their breakthrough, again a continuous piece of music that received great critical acclaim and reached the top 20 in the US album charts. With founder member Roye Albrighton leaving and then re-joining, the band released several more albums before splitting up in 1982.
It was not until 2000 that the band got together again, releasing ‘The Prodigal Son’ in 2001. The band continued in various guises until the death of founder member Roye Albrighton at the age of 67 in 2016. A double live album – ‘Live in Bremen’ of his last tour was released in 2017.
The band split into two in 2018, confusingly both sides were calling themselves Nektar but one was based out of Germany (New Nektar), and the other was formed by Ron Howden, based in the US. Howden added former members Randy Dembo, Mick Brockett and Ryche Chlanda along with a new keyboard player in Kendall Scott.
It was these personnel that were present on their 50th-anniversary tour. It’s a fitting testament to Howden, and you certainly get your money’s worth with this release, coming in at an impressive two and a half hours of high-quality prog rock.
Kicking off with ‘A Tab in the Ocean’ (itself a 15-minute epic) which was a top 40 hit for the band way back in 1972, there’s a cacophonic start and keyboard intro before the rest of the band kick in. The sound is rich and deep and powered forward by the beat from Howden’s drums.
‘Drifting’, from their most recent studio album ‘The Other Side’ has had a YouTube release to give fans a taste of what is to come on this album featuring an impressive lengthy guitar solo with plenty of wah-wah along with nice keyboard work and thunderous crunchy bass.
There are two sets, and the second is given over to both parts of ‘Remember the Future’ weighing in at more than half an hour.
The album has a high-quality sound and a high level of musicianship. So, if you like your prog rock and have not got any Nektar in your collection this is a great place to start. And for Nektar fans, well, you’ll be getting this anyway….
Track Listing
Set One:
Introduction
The Light Beyond (from tape)
A Tab in the Ocean
Skywriter
I’m On Fire
Dream Nebula
Drifting
Cast Your Fate
A Day in the Life of a Preacher
Recycled 2
Show Me the Way
Set Two:
Remember the Future Part 1
Remember the Future Part 2
Encore:
Look Through Me
Fidgety Queen
Good Day
Personnel:
Randy Dembo – bass, guitars
Kendall Scott – keyboards, vocals
Ryche Chlanda – guitars, vocals
Ron Howden – drums, vocals
Mick Brockett – visuals
Derek ‘Mo’ Moore – bass, vocals
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