A SPOONFUL OF TIME

Well ... this is a love and hate kind of album as it is basically a tribute album to the music of others - be it a progrocker or a straight pop rock artist. Those who hate it have their own standings on why they hate it as Nektar has been viewed by many people as one of pioneers of progrock especially in space rock arena. As I am a newsletter member of Nektar, I knew the plan to make this album long before it was recorded and i expected they would make all tribute music become spacey as Nektar music is. When this album came to me last year there was basically no major suprise as I listened to barely minimum improvisations from the original version of the music. I felt indifference actually ...

But ..let me put it this way: whatever setlist the band has selected I can see they are all the songs that at least appricated by the band as having good composotion or whatsoever. This came to my mind when I looked Fly Like an Eagle as one of the setlist played here. I even almost forget this song and the artist who played in the past until I found in the credit list it's Steve Miller. Hah? Steve Miller? I can not understand this straight pop rock music being covered by Nektar? Oh No .... But hold on .... I honestly like this version by Nektar! It's probably when the original version was played as radio hit in the past (something in 80s) I did not pay much attention of the song at all. And now...because it's Nektar, then I enjoy it now. It also happens to the track that I have never heard before: For The Love of Money - which is basically a disco track. But ...surprisingly I can enjoy this version by Nektar.

Another point is that I appreciate the collaboration efforts made by Nektar with other musicians, some are younger generation. I can see the impact when I heard Wish You Were Here where Nektar brought in Edgar Froese of Tangerine Dream. The song tastes differently than original Pink Floyd track. Nektar is quite adventurous as they put Mark Kelly play in The Spirit of Radio. There is something disconnected between the music of Rush and Marillion but ,...the result is a good taste of music.

Even though at first I felt indifference ... I can now enjoy the music due to the appreciation side of the thinking like I explain above. And of course I love the cover art work as well. It's basically a good tribute album by Nektar. Keep on proggin' ...!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW