FORTYFIED

As often, re-founded great groups from 70-s (even if not fully in original line-up) 30+ years later could be divided in two categories: some of them doing it for the money only, and another really try to re-establish their old music's atmosphere. This Nektar's album happily depends to second category.

Band (with two original members of four) plays their greatest songs in long live versions, and it sounds not bad at all. OK, vocalist's voice is far from what it was 35 years ago, but I believe you didn't expect miracle in this department. But - musicians are really competent, and their playing is inspired enough to be attractive during long double album. Music is not in full the same ,as in original studio releases many years ago though. I really liked their complex jazzy psychedelic sound of some early albums, now they play less complex, but still very spacey music in a manner of Hawkwind. Long , a bit relaxed ,compositions are not very essential, but those with love to Hawkwind endless spacey compositions will really like it.

Album's sound is quite raw, and far not polished, but from other hand you can hear almost live sound without studio overdubbing. More album for Nektar's old fans, but still could be interesting for spacey classic prog newbies as well (even it's much better for them to start with Nektar's albums from early 70-s).Double CD long album is great documentary, but possibly one CD album could be more concentrated release. Release contains nice booklet with pictures and photos as well. Really nice album, my rating is 3+.

Fortyfied is a double live album celebrating four decades of Nektar. The set list includes songs from all of the band's classic albums all the way from the 1971 debut album Journey To The Centre Of The Eye to their latest studio release at the time, 2008's Book Of Days. The first seven tracks on the first disc are all very good and represent such great albums as Remember The Future and A Tab In The Ocean. However, every one of these tracks (and much more) were also present on the 2005 live concert DVD Pure, an overall much better live release. The two final tracks on disc one and the first three tracks on disc two are of a significantly lesser quality. Again, a couple of these were present also on Pure. But several were taken from Book Of Days and are not up to par with the classic Nektar material. Not until the end of the second disc does the performance regain the power to grab the listener with a rendition of Recycled. But even that one was also on Pure as well as The Debate from 2004's Evolution album. Only the closer Man In The Moon was a surprise.

With such a similar set list, it is hard not to compare Fortyfied with Pure. And for those who own the latter (an excellent live video release), Fortyfied offers very little of additional interest. Fortyfied is a good live album in its own right, but only serious fans and collectors will feel the need to have both.