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Nektar - Journey to the Centre of the Eye CD (album) cover

JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EYE

Nektar

Psychedelic/Space Rock


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loserboy
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars "Although my mind is gently weeping" cries NEKTAR from their absolutely stunning Kraut-Rock'ish materpiece of 1971. "Journey To The Centre Of The Eye" is just that and lands with perfection in my opinion carrying some of NEKTAR most treasured musical moments. "Journey..." is in a slightly different vein from later NEKTAR albums, delivering more of a psychedelic/underground flavour. "Journey..." is a wonderful conceptual work of art which really feels like you are on a journey to the centre of an eye. As usual musicanship and song writing is superb with a nice compliment of instruments including the beloved Mellotron! "Journey..." has amazing guitar playing on it throughout and I love the spacey grooves that they get into... some very memorable treasures here. Countenance is the 3rd tracks and in my opinion is one of the greatest prog rock pieces they ever wrote! In my opinion "Journey..." is essential progressive rock...!
Report this review (#19048)
Posted Monday, March 15, 2004 | Review Permalink
Cesar Inca
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars As much as I enjoy Nektar's 70s repertoire as a whole, I must admit than their first opus is their best, a stunning piece of psych-oriented symphonic prog that was not to be surpassed or even equalled by their following efforts. The Nektar guys were residents in Germany for a number of years, and maybe this is the factor that explains their notable approaches to krautrock suff (hence, the PF influence through a Teutonic filter), while keeping a very distinctive British sense of melodic textures, already present in Procol Harum, The Nice and the Moody Blues. This concept album is centered on the narrative about an astronaut's adventure in his travel to a different Universe, in which he learns some peace of mind, but also witnesses the sad nuclear holocaust of Planet Earth. The somber, pessimistic thorough mood is properly conveyed by the agressive guitar riffs, solos and effects, the opressive organ chords and harmonics, the dramatic layers on mellotron, as well as the recurrently affected vocal leads and ensembles: the instrumental ensemble works fluidly and proficiently, with a special mention to Moore's powerful bass sound, sometimes achieving a co-starring role next to the lead guitar. Generally speaking, the melodic lines are inspired and touching, hence allowing the tracks maintain an even level of intensity and evocative grandeur along as the album goes on. But still you can find some particular highlights, starting with the melancholic beauty of 'Astronauts Nightmare' as the starter for the sad concept of witnessing the world's apocalypse, the overtly progressive pomp of 'Burn Out My Eyes', the emotional climax fluidly developed in the sequence of tracks 10-13. It is not fair to overlook the Haendelian 'Countenance' or the hyperfloydian 'Warp Oversight' as the most stunning intrumental sections. As paradoxical as it may seem, the poor sound production served as an accurate catalystic for the expression of the repertoire's gloomy mood. Since I've never considered Nektar as a premier league band, I really wouldn't feel comfortable by giving their (IMO) top opus the perfect rating, but it is the definitive Nektar masterpiece, no more and no less.
Report this review (#19047)
Posted Sunday, May 23, 2004 | Review Permalink
James Lee
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
2 stars PINK FLOYD went from "Piper at the Gates" to "Ummagumma" and ultimately "Meddle", but there were some at the start of the new decade who felt that they left some loose ends along the way. Enter NEKTAR to keep the late-60s space rock dream alive and put their own minimalistic style into it.

There are plenty of harder rocking moments, ranging from the CREAM-like sections in "Astronauts Nightmares" to the funky, early- DEEP PURPLE sound of organ and wah guitar jamming in "Pupil of the Eye". There are plenty 'weird sounds' experiments from the FLOYDian "Prelude" to the freak-out sounds of "Warp Oversight", which features spacey burbles and abortive crescendos, a tribal rhythm segement, and some heartbeat bass drum (well before "Dark Side"). There are also several moody, slightly spooky vocal sections in songs like "Look Inside Yourself" and "The Dream Nebula" (why is the latter inexplicably split into two parts, the only difference being the fade-in on the 2nd part?). One of the stronger compositions is "Burn Out My Eyes" which is quite heavy, with a slower, more desperate feel that works best for them among these songs.

There is a rhythmic and melodic simplicity on this album which links it more closely to 'Krautrock' and hard rock roots; the conceptual album-length narrative and sonic experiments, however, place it definitely in the proto-prog camp. If you like the FLOYD of "Interstellar Overdrive" or "Saucerful of Secrets", this is worth checking out- but be warned, it doesn't have quite as much textural depth. The story rarely draws me into the music, and the instrumental performances never really impress me, but it is a good snapshot of a how psychedelic hard rock at the time was poised on the brink of progressive bliss.

Report this review (#19049)
Posted Friday, June 25, 2004 | Review Permalink
Carl floyd fan
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars This is a masterpiece to say the least! This is an amazing concept album and has very touching lyrics. I would reccomend it to any prog fans because it has many different styles, from hard rock to psychedelic to kraut, along with many other sub genres. Picture a early Pink Floyd with elements of krautrock and Novalis.
Report this review (#19050)
Posted Friday, December 24, 2004 | Review Permalink
maani
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Founding Moderator
2 stars I love Nektar. I consider their central "trilogy" (Remember the Future, Down to Earth, Recycled) absolutely required prog listening, and possibly even near-masterpieces. However, their debut album, Journey to the Center of the Eye - despite all the accolades by others - is a case of the emperor having no clothes. (OK, maybe underwear and socks...) Because although there is certainly creativity going on, an interesting concept, and a valiant attempt to create a true "concept album" around that concept, the album is ultimately "naive" and, sadly, simply not very interesting. The music is not very original (influences include Floyd, Moody Blues, Crimson and, oddly, The Who), and the studio tricks and effects used are, by 1971, actually rather passe. Indeed, if we consider that by the time this album came out we already had both of The Moody Blues' seminal works (A Question of Balance, On the Threshold of a Dream), every PF album through Atom Heart Mother, In the Court of the Crimson King, Trespass, and even the debut albums of Gentle Giant and ELP, this album truly begins to sound immature. / Opening with a short sound effects intro, the album gives us "Astronaut's Nightmare," which is basically a riff on the Am-G-F-E progression already done much better by The Beatles (While My Guitar Gently Weeps) and even Chicago (25 or 6 to 4). Yet in "Countenance," the band sees fit to use the progression yet again (!), this time with only minor modification. "The Nine Lifeless Daughters of the Sun" is laden with sound effects all previously better used by Floyd, Crimson, Moody Blues, et al. "Warp Oversight" is the first interesting track, and leads into the two- part "Dream Nebula," which is where the album finally shows some degree of originality. Although it opens very much like the verse to "Epitaph" (with very "Lake"- like vocals, and a build-up to a mellotron and flute section), it has a good guitar theme, and a more well-realized arrangement. "It's All in the Mind" has many hints of what Nektar would eventually become, especially in the repeated keyboard figure and jam from 4:00 on. "Burn Out My Eyes," "Void of Vision" and "Pupil of the Eye" are reasonably interesting. "Look Inside Yourself" and the first minute or two of "Death of the Mind" have a quasi-operatic quality that reminded me of The Who's Tommy (which was released the previous year). Then the band returns to end with the Am-G-F-E progression - this time unabashedly evoking The Beatles' by singing the words "my eyes gently weeping" over that progression. / Given how much had come before it, how derivative it is overall, and its failure to successfully execute its intended concept, I must sadly relegate this to "collectors/fans only" status. On a happier note, the band progressed (...) rather wonderfully by its second album.
Report this review (#19051)
Posted Thursday, January 13, 2005 | Review Permalink
Muzikman
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars Folks unfamiliar with the band Nektar think they are from Germany. What actually transpired was the quartet of Englishmen met in Germany in 1969 and formed the band. Ron Howden (drums, percussion), Derek "Mo" Moore (bass, vocals), Alan "Taff" Freeman (keyboards, vocals) and Roye Albrighton (guitar, lead vocals) would become huge in Germany and nearly broke big the in the U.S.

Eclectic Discs/Dream Nebula Recordings have reissued the four critically acclaimed albums that defined the band's career. "A Tab In The Ocean", "Journey To The Center Of The Eye", "Remember The Future" and "Recycled" are lovingly remastered with detailed liner notes for former fans and the newly indoctrinated to enjoy. Their well- known masterpiece "Remember The Future" was appropriately chosen for the SACD format as well as "Journey To The Center Of The Eye".

Their sound was a progressive-psychedelic mixture of rock that was far ahead of its time. For this listener this was a new wonderful listening experience. Prior to receiving these CDs, I had not heard any Nektar music besides a video of "Remember The Future" on a DVD compilation. I can understand now what all the talk has been about the band reforming and going on tour.

Roye Albrighton was the driving force of this band. His skilled guitar playing set the table for his fellow band mates. Each recording was outstanding and stands as a testament to their importance to the history of prog-rock music. What made this so interesting was how the label broke up each album into two parts respectively, the original recordings versus the newly remastered versions. You are now able to hear succinct differences between the two formats for the first time. Both versions are excellent and it was a treat to get the best of both worlds.

Any prog-rock listener will most certainly enjoy taking in this musical paradise in more than once, I listened to each CD four times myself and I know there will be many more spins of each CD down the road. I look forward to catching Nektar 2004 on the road this year to relive all of these great songs in a live setting. I never would have decided to see them in concert if it wasn't for this remastered series.

Rating: 5/5 overall

Report this review (#19053)
Posted Friday, January 28, 2005 | Review Permalink
pferraro1987@
4 stars You will love this album. It is extremely trippy, dreamy and heavy. I consider the musicianship and the concept as high up in the ranks as dark side. The musical roller coaster is literally a journey evoking many different moods. You will leave this album breathless and consider it your most valuable possession. Its in that perfect time period of old school hard rock and if your searching (as I am) for the perfect trip album make Journey to the center of the eye a major part of your rotation.
Report this review (#19054)
Posted Monday, May 2, 2005 | Review Permalink
agony_99@hotm
5 stars Now this is really good album. It become one of my favorites. Maybe it is not THAT difficult, but it enterntains you from first to last minute. I now can't even remember another album wich i could describe so! So there is no doubts that this gets full marks and worths listening.
Report this review (#19055)
Posted Monday, May 16, 2005 | Review Permalink
Matti
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars I agree on many things with Maani's 2-star review (of this debut of a British band that started life in Germany): "The music is not very original (influences include Floyd, Moody Blues, Crimson and, oddly, The Who), and the studio tricks and effects used are, by 1971, actually rather passé." However, I don't mind so much about obvious influences - add German Krautrock to the list - or a sound that would be more at home in the year '68. I enjoy the very psychedelic and 'old' feel. But this album undoubtedly has some weaknesses of sort AS IF they were experimenting on some new genre (and technics) where things are only developing. I suppose Nektar themselves were too busy searching their style to see how prog had matured already.

It's a concept album - about a trip into an eye: inner space? hallucinogenic? or just surreal imagination? Being mostly instrumental it's not the easiest 'story' to get. It's definitely not an album to take advantage of CD player's track programming possibility without breaking the flow and as the passages I found quite unpleasant are often within an interesting track. (I edited a 23- minute taping for myself and hope that the seams are unnoticeable.)

Mellotron and organ dominate this album more than other Nektars, I believe. Highlights for me include 'Dream Nebula 1-2' and 'Burn Out My Eyes' where distorted vocals bring deeper emotion to music. In places it's really a strong listening experience to dive into, in all its outdated psychedelia. Darkness and headphones help! And in places it's like bad throwaway sketches of early Pink Floyd.

Report this review (#53647)
Posted Friday, October 28, 2005 | Review Permalink
Certif1ed
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Definitely one for fans of early Floyd, this album is a feast of spacey sounds in a kind of accessible Krautrock vein.

"Journey" is a somewhat uneven effort, but credit has to be given to Nektar for blending all these elements on their debut album in what is clearly an honest attempt to find and establish their own sound.

The prelude has smatterings of Saucerful of Secrets and Meddle all over it, and the title Astronaut's Nightmare would suggest things like Astronomy Domine and Set the Controls...

However, the music of Astronauts nightmare is more akin to "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", but carrying a soupcon of early Hawkwind and Focus (the riff from "Hocus Pocus") and maybe even Deep Purple and Uriah Heep.

Countenance takes us into more ambient territory, with some quite wonderful keyboard sounds and intriguing guitar/bass interplay. I am reminded once again of Saucerful of Secrets - but this time the final part - in two things; the step-descending chord progression and the constant build-up aspect. You can practically hear Roger Waters vocals chiming in over the top.

"The Nine Lifeless Daughters..." comes in with a bit of a jolt, sitting more in Iron Butterfly land, but with an insistent driving riff that carries the Nektar hallmark of individuality. The piece builds towards a kind of swirling frenzy - at one point I was almost expecting it to slam into an anthemic Trance hook - then dissolves into "Warp Oversight", a starlit piece of texture exploration that boldly goes around black holes, and may even deliver one or two revelations. Around 2:20 the feel is a little lost with a thumping drum and bass intrusion, but fortunately it returns - and delivers a wonderful "heartbeat" accompanied passage that seems to foretell "Dark Side of the Moon" in a way.

Then Bam! The Dream Nebula Pt 1 crashes in, with columns of sound framing delicate and often edgy textures. The vocals are a great demonstration of the fun that can be had armed with but a single copycat tape loop, and contribute to the overall texture wonderfully. Pt 2 seems somewhat hesitant at first, by contrast - and the vocals sound quite Bowie-like.

The guitarist then gets busy with the copycat, now that the singer has tired of it, and constructs a neat solo passge that continues the Bowie-in-space feel.

"It's all in the Mind" carries some really cheesey lyrics - "My mind goes round like a roundabout", "Darker than darkest night", "My mind expands to a great degree - a feeling that must be free" - but fortunately it is also positively dripping with Mellotrons. Pwhoar!!!

Some really great textural experimentation is interspersed with some really unfortunate riff experimentation, but the build-up to the guitar solo and beyond is quite wonderful, marred only by a return to the textures and riffs from before the solo - full points for formal exploration, but null points for some of those riffs.

"Burn Out My Eyes", a seven and a half minuter, features loads more Mellotrons, and an ice-cool slow groove that carries the song along to a passage of starts and stops that I find somewhat uncomfortable. Fortunately the song goes through many episodes of development that maintain the interest throughout, and not only does it never get boring, despite the constant changing, it also remains engaging.

"Void of Vision" has a rather wonderful almost atonal feel to start, and the song parts are rooted in Barret-style psychedelia and the Beatles. The "atonal" passage is re-used as the song structure reveals itself, but where the bridge should be is a real surprise, and a lovely smattering of vocal harmonies that show Yes how it should be done.

These are carried into "Pupil of the Eye", such that the ending of one song and the beginning of the next are completely blurred. This is quite wonderful until the awful riff around 1:40ish and the section that follow it.

"Look Inside Yourself" (title inspired by Uriah Heep?) is a nice, short, Mellotron drenched affair - in fact, we get two Mellotrons - what more could you want?

"Death of the Mind" shares an apocalyptic vision with the re-interpretation of the "While my Guitar..." variant that we were treated to in the early bars of this album - and the song is given a nod and a wink through the lyrics "Although my eyes are gently weeping " - I get the distinct impression that this album, indeed, perhaps this song inspired the mighty Necronomicon Opus "Tips Zum Selbst Mord".

I therefore feel a little cruel in awarding this album less than the masterpiece I offered to Necronomicon, especially since this is a less amateurish sounding effort. However, despite the more polished compositions and arrangements - and, indeed those Mellotrons, I find it to be more derivative and pretentious, and has too many moments where the promise does not match the delivery.

On the production side, I'm not sure if it's just the presssing I own, but the bass is not as clearly defined as I'd like, and has little presence - indeed, the instruments as a whole lack clarity,there are a number of times where the drop-ins are not only audible but frankly intrusive, and it's a tribute to the band that the music itself outshines the production.

And so it is that this is a most excellent addition to your Prog music collection - and one that will either switch you straight onto Krautrock, or put you off it completely - until the next time you listen to it, at which time it's sucker-toothed tentacles will pull you into the cosmic void inside your mind's eye.

Or something.

SOLID 4/5

Report this review (#81279)
Posted Friday, June 16, 2006 | Review Permalink
philippe
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars First and one of the best published by this eclectic psych spacey folk band coming from England. A tremendous energy and some melodic pop accents provide all along this unique album. The opening track is a brief introduction into some abstract noises to announce the journey. The first song "Astronauts nightmare " starts as a melodic introspect song, then goes into a furious heavy rock'n roll improvisation dominated by Hammond organs. Excellent guitar solos punctuates the composition. "Countenance " is a marvellous, sad, dreamy progressive rock piece with plaintive guitar solos which slowly grow in you...terribly beautiful and effective. "The nine lifeless daughters of the sun" is a colourful spacey track made of repetitive keyboards' structure which reaches into a state of "trance". "Warp oversight" is totally freak out with its mellotron, "xylophone" like arrangements. "The dream nebula" (part I and II) is the submit of the album in term of progressive rock. Melodic compositions with pop vocals, Hammond organs and heavy guitar sounds, echoing effects. "It's all in the mind " is a weak Beatles like composition but it contains a nice "mellotron" part, powerful guitar breaks. "Burn out my eyes " starts as a symphonic "pastoral", acoustic ballad then it turns to different rock'n roll moods. "Look inside yourself "is a mellow ballad with abundant mellotron lines. "Death of the mind" is a melodic, plaintive and intense spacey composition with some reminiscence of previous musical themes. A must for fans of early Pink Floyds, Utopia and Focus
Report this review (#83001)
Posted Friday, July 7, 2006 | Review Permalink
4 stars Nektar's debut, Journey to the Centre of the Eye is a strong debut and is, in my opinion the best Nektar album. Where some of Nektar's later work gets a little bright and airy, JTTCOTE is dark and menacing. The firsts true song, Astronauts Nightmare, is a real stunner and a perfect example of a darker Nektar that wouldn't surface again. The album is also more spacey and ,though i'm loath to use the term, trippy. The only problem with the album seems to be the track arrangments. Following Astonaut's Nightmare are three instrumentals of varying effectiveness. However, because of their similarities in form, the sound redundant following each other so closely. The problem could've been helped by making less distinct track breaks and instead having them flow together to form a whole. The better of this tracks, Countenance and Daughters of the Sun would've been better served breaking up the lyrical passages seperatly (they are ideal for mixtapes). This is a minor problem however and the album is still excellent. A great one to take in on the whole or to accompany a nighted or rainy drive, and definetly the best place to start for a new fan.
Report this review (#84560)
Posted Saturday, July 22, 2006 | Review Permalink
Joolz
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
5 stars An astronaut lifts off for Saturn. En route, he is intercepted by aliens who had been studying Earth for some time and were perplexed by our war-mongering ways. They offer to show him life as they know it, a journey he undertakes both to a far-distant galaxy yet inwardly into his own psyche, a mind-expanding trip into the 'All Seeing Eye' which teaches him that all he seeks can be found here on Earth. But Earth is heading for a nuclear war ....

For a new band to undertake a complex concept for their debut recording showed at least they had no lack of ambition. It was recorded in a tiny German studio live-in-the-studio on 8-track equipment, filling any remaining tracks with overdubs as necessary, producing a technically excellent album far exceeding its humble origins. The sound is typical of its time - rough edged and unpolished, free from overly slick production or too many fancy electronic gizmos, revealing an energetic simplicity often lacking in modern music.

Instrumentally, what you get is essentially the core Nektar live sound, ie guitar, keyboard [mostly organ and Mellotron], bass and drums with just a few effects thrown in. This, the start of their journey through Prog-land, betrays its origins in the psychedelic world of the late 60s. The effect is probably best described as Psych Space Prog, which is entirely consistent with the subject matter: weird subtle effects; distorted or chiming electric guitars; prominent use of Hammond organ as a lead instrument; a 'complex' musical structure; and, dreamy floating sequences, sometimes with processed vocals depending on context.

Highlights are many, but this album is more about the flow through its entire 42 minutes than picking out individual pieces. Aside from a split half way through Dream Nebula [to enable it to fit on both sides of a vinyl LP] it is a continuous work, progressing through a sequence of movements as the story unfolds. However, my own favourite episodes are the instrumental Countenance which develops from a beautiful dreamy start into a mid-tempo spacey jam, and an achingly haunting Burn Out My Eyes simply oozing with anguish as the astronaut pleads for his sanity.

It has to be said there are times when neither lyrics nor music appear to illustrate the story in a literal sense, but the overall effect is mesmerising - close your eyes and you can imagine the journey into outer and inner space, you can feel the astronaut's sense of wonder at the magnificence of the universe, his pleasure and pain of knowing all things, the burden of seeing the future destruction of his homeland.

As with their other albums, Journey To The Centre Of The Eye has recently been re-mastered and re-issued by Dream Nebula with a useful pair of bonus tracks. The jewel in the crown though is an SACD layer containing a stunning 5.1 surround remix of the album, complete with the two halves of The Dream Nebula stitched together as a single track. Packaging is, as ever, excellent.

I can find little to fault. It is a product of its age, marrying the outgoing sound of psychedelia to new Progressive ideals of the incoming decade, yet in many ways ahead of its time, foreshadowing the emergence of both Space Rock [Hawkwind, Floyd, Eloy] and Prog [ELP, Genesis, Yes] as major musical forces. Debut or not, this is an astonishingly accomplished work which deserves to be considered a masterpiece alongside its more commercially successful peers.

Report this review (#84897)
Posted Thursday, July 27, 2006 | Review Permalink
5 stars Nektar's debut, "Journey to the Center of the Eye" is a psychedelic masterpiece. From fantastic harmonies to creating dark atomspheres, Nektar's 1st album is in a class by itself. It is so different from the rest of their catalouge. This is a raw and trippy experience. Nothing else can compare...
Report this review (#100482)
Posted Sunday, November 26, 2006 | Review Permalink
hdfisch
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars I'm aware of this band already since a few decades actually but nonetheless it never became one of of my favs. I didn't listen very often to their records and after spinning again through their catalogue (at least up to their IMHO unjustified highly praised "Recycled" album) just now I remember why. Their releases after this debut revealed a style that could be roughly described as straight forward hard rock with slight progressive leanings, a bit later towards pomp prog and arena rock. But in fact things are much different on this one here which is still much in the spirit of late 60's / early 70's psychedelic rock not that far away from early Floyd with some symphonic feel thrown in. Though being not really Prog either, rather (very good) Proto-Prog it's the only album by them I can still support to listen to repeatedly. It's a concept one based on a Sci-Fi story and accordingly many of the tracks reveal a very spacey sound but not without a good measure of hard rocking elements. Apart from the obvious Floydian touch one can hear traces of Deep Purple, The Nice, The Beatles and Moody Blues but especially the use of Mellotron brings at times Crimson's debut into one's mind. I agree to the points of critics of some reviewers that there are many "borrowed" elements from multiple bands and this work's certainly to be called derivative and quite dated for its year of release but in the end it sounds completely different from any of those bands and it's moreover a very enjoyable listen. Due to their residence in Germany their sound had been of course as well influenced by Krautrock and at times they came here close to the band Wallenstein. Overall this was a very good album and a remarkable debut though being due to its lack of originality not really an essential one I would say. But I'd add ˝ star extra.
Report this review (#102825)
Posted Tuesday, December 12, 2006 | Review Permalink
Easy Livin
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
3 stars A fine spectacle

We are fortunate that Roy Albrighton decided to remain in Germany after the demise of the Rainbows, while his band mates went on to form the short lived STILL LIFE (also listed on this site). He formed Nektar there, a band comprised of British members, but with obvious influences from continental Europe. The fact that they chose to remain in Germany has meant that they have always suffered from a significant lack of recognition in their homeland. "Journey to the centre of the eye" was Nektar's first album, and may even have represented the birth of the neo-prog sub-genre (perhaps that is would make a good topic for debate in forum!). Recorded in 1971, this ambitious concept album consists of 13 distinct but linked tracks. The music is simultaneously symphonic and psychedelic, but always Progressive with a capital P.

After opening with an early PINK FLOYD like psychedelic "Prelude", we move into "Astronaut's nightmare". The initial MOODY BLUES sound of the track is deceptive as it quickly becomes darker with opaque guitar sounds and distorted vocals. As the track develops, the repetitive driving sound of HAWKWIND begins to feature with hints of KANSAS thrown in for good measure. And thus we have the essence of Nektar in the first 8 minutes of the album.

The album's concept is that of a rocket leaving earth just prior to a world-wide nuclear war, and encountering strange new galaxies where time and space do not exist as such. The "eye" in question is "The all seeing eye", which contains all the secrets of the universe. This concept is largely played out instrumentally, rather than being described verbatim in the lyrics. The accompanying sleeve notes however describe eloquently the stages of the story.

At times, things can become just a little too indulgent, such as on the chaotic but tuneless "Warp oversight". Things are always tightened up quickly though, in this case by the thundering guitar chords which introduce "The dream nebula".

Those coming to this album now, should remember that it dates from 1971, and thus by today's standards may sound contrived and dated. Conversely, the many influences it displays, even though these date only from the period immediately before it was recorded, imply that the album is not quite as original as it sounds. That said, Nektar have taken those influences and melded them into something which is unique for the period.

In any event, the overriding fact which mitigates anything else is that the music here is well composed, the performances are exemplary, and the album is highly enjoyable. It is all too easy with such albums to attempt to dissect them into their perceived constituent parts, where in reality the best thing to do is to sit down and simply derive pleasure from the music.

Report this review (#104914)
Posted Saturday, December 30, 2006 | Review Permalink
clkarob@nbnet
2 stars I have to agree with the other 2 star ratings. Much here is already dated by the time of its release. The playing is good, & you can see potential, but you also see it missed. I will offer one caveat, though, if you can listen to some samples, it would be better for you to find out if it's worth buying it. For me, the space rock aspect is enjoyable, but it should show progression through a theme or a melody. This shows too often a meandering mood setting instrumental play. By no means a disaster, just not a keeper for me.
Report this review (#118384)
Posted Saturday, April 14, 2007 | Review Permalink
febus
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator / In Memoriam
5 stars NO, THEY ARE NOT GERMAN!!!!

NEKTAR since the beginning of the 70s has always been considered as a typical german band and its name is always mentionned in every Krautrock discussion. Why is that?? Looking at the band members names, you won't see any Karl-Heinz, Dieter or other Helmut. We have Roye ALLBRIGHTON on guitars and vocals, Allan Freeman on keyboards, Derek Moore on bass, Ron Howden as the drummer. Hardly German sounding!!

But they were a bunch of british expats who lived at the time in Hamburg and most importantly, their music was very in the german style from then, more in the vein of bands like Grobschnitt, Jane, Eloy than experimental Krautrock. They made quite a few remarkable albums, this one JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EYE being their first .....and their best imho.

This is a'' concept''album about an intergalactic trip as the world is on the verge of a world war. Then the space ship enters another galaxy where everything is dreamy. The hero wants to know more about life and want only see with his mind until he sees a big eye in the sky where of course he will get into and learn the truth!!!!! Obviously, it was the beginning of the 70s and a lot of smoke were coming out of the recording studios back then. I am sure captain DAVE BROCK from HAWKWIND loved this story and album.

Even if there are 13 tracks on this album, the longest being only over 7mns, this ''story'' is one long musical odyssey with no interruption between songs and can be listened as a long 40ms suite. Don't forget, this is a ''concept'' album.

The music on this album is outstanding! real good prog that define perfectly the creative spirits of the time; there is a good dose of psychedelism, a zest of symphonic touch, some weird experimental passages, some good strong guitar sounding here and there, spacial athmosphere a la Hawkwind, very strong melodies too, even sometimes beatles-esque l An excellent space rock to keep it short.

There are NO weak tracks, but a few are absolutely majestic like COUNTENANCE which is a beautiful trip all by itself! ThE DREAM NEBULA will become one of their trademark song on stage. How can we resist when listening to the beautiful IT'S ALL IN THE MIND. I have read somewhere that this album sounded dated!!!!!! NO, NO!!!! it sounds and smell prog in all its splendor coming from a time where it was possible to enter a music studio, smokes in it and come up with outstanding, creative, unique sounds without the marketing manager asking you to be more radio-friendly or else!!

Those were the times!! we miss it!

An absolute masterpiece that cannot be missed by any prog lover!!!

5 STARSi

Report this review (#131682)
Posted Saturday, August 4, 2007 | Review Permalink
ZowieZiggy
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars If, like me you like "A Saucerful Of Secrets" (the track) you will love this album. While the mood of the opening number is fully psychedelic, "Astronauts Nighmare" is more space-rock oriented. Actually it fully clones "ASOS". But so brilliantly that I have no weird feeling at all about it. On the contrary. It sounds just great. The end is rather close to the one of "Child In Time" (Purple).

"Warp Oversight" is a bit experimenal. Strange sounds, a bit chaotic, directionless. Could be interesting to get a live version of this one... "The Dream Nebula" are fully in-line with "Piper". Great psyche moments. On the harder edge (some notes coming straight from "Astronomy").

"Countenance" is one of my preferred song form this album. Again, "ASOS" is not very far. Wonderful and screamy guitar. Great mellotron. "The Nine" is completely disjointed. It could the start of a good "trip".

"It's All in the Mind" has a childish mood (during the initial part) but rocks alright after this. Great guitar work from Roye (the very end features again three, four notes from "Astronomy"). A tribute ?

The format of all these songs are quite short (execpt "Astronauts"). The second and last longer piece is "Burn Out My Eyes". Beautiful keyboards, smooth vocals and a fantastic crescendo part. The rhythmics sound great. After another "Child In Time" sort of false finale, the nice melodic debut are featured again. Another highlight and a bit more complex to apprehend.

The psychedelic mood of "Piper" is almost carboned copy during "Void Of Vision" and "Pupil of The Eye". I like the latter very much, although vocals are not very pleasant. The album closes on the very good "Death Of The Mind". Full of mellotron, great rhythm and guess to which number the final part sounds like !

Like Febus mentions, there are no weak tracks here. I can only recommend this album to all of you who like the very early Floyd with added mellotron (?). Four stars for this very good debut album.

Report this review (#136639)
Posted Thursday, September 6, 2007 | Review Permalink
Prog Leviathan
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Despite its age (which shows), this is an exceptional piece of spacey atmosphere and experimental playing with strong performances. The tone is dark throughout, the majority of the songs containing heavy use of mellotron/organ soundscapes with some very exciting guitar work scattered here and there to spice things up. Albrighton's axe-work is a sort of heavy blues which cooks with surprising intensity, especially when juxtaposed to the otherwise long, slow sustains of the keyboards-- the highlight of the album for me, along with his tinkling sound effects. However, the vocals, recording quality, and sometimes cheesy organ sound date the album quite a bit, and unless the listener is a fan of the classic, early psychedelic period, liable to detract from the experience.

Songwriting: 3 Instrumental Performances: 3 Lyrics/Vocals: 2 Style/Emotion/Replay: 4

Report this review (#141420)
Posted Tuesday, October 2, 2007 | Review Permalink
russellk
PROG REVIEWER
2 stars NEKTAR's debut album contains few of the qualities that makes the band's later work memorable.

Modelled closely on the first two PINK FLOYD albums, 'Journey to the Centre of the Eye' is a psyched-out trippy album that leans too heavily on the freak-out and not nearly enough on the songwriting. Large sections of the album feature progressionless noodling, with jarring transitions to guitar and organ-laden passages. My impression is that NEKTAR had very little to say, but packaged it in the manner of the times regardless.

The Krautrock influence is strong in places, undermining their British melodic sensibilities and leaving the music to fall between two stools. There are some pleasant and even dynamic sections, including 'Countenance', 'It's All in the Mind' and the standout 'Burn Out My Eyes' (if only it had all been like this), but no real cohesiveness or musical progression in what purports to be a concept album. There are some who love this record, but for the reasons stated above I'm not one of them. Simply put, the band was not able to fulfil their ambitious ideas. That would have to wait until their much better second album.

Handle with care unless you're a hard-core psychedelica fan.

Report this review (#143265)
Posted Wednesday, October 10, 2007 | Review Permalink
UMUR
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars I find this debut album from Nektar to be pretty special as it draws influences from various genres within the prog world. Symphonic prog, psychadelic/ space rock and Krautrock. It´s actually a very nice blend. The album is a concept album and in the end a good epic prog rock album.

The instrumentation allows the guitar and the organ to be the most prominent instruments on the album. The rythm section plays pretty standard prog rock stuff but once in a while Krautrock rythms appear. The vocals are sometimes distorted for a psychadelic effect. The music can be compared to Eloy at times. Most of the songs are melodic and good songs. A song like Warp Oversight is mindless noises though. Psychadelic yes! But to me it´s a waste of time. Maybe it would help if I smoked some pot before listening to Journey to the Centre of the Eye ?

The sound quality is ok for the time, but nothing special.

This is really not my taste, but I must admit that I find Journey to the Centre of the Eye pretty intriguing without ever reaching excellent though. 3 stars for a good prog rock album.

Report this review (#158474)
Posted Sunday, January 13, 2008 | Review Permalink
5 stars Enchanting, magical, naive. Nektar's first album, was to me one of the very first progressive rock albums from the golden era I've heard, and among the first vinyls I've bought. As I hear it, 'Journey..' possesses something unique which no other Nektar album holds... I don't know if it's because it was Nektar's first album and had that magic of a fresh begining, because it was the early 70's, or what not. The album features an atmosphere like no other, you feel you are in space with all the heavy textures working behind the music. The mellotron ofcourse is most responsible for that with it's eerie presence. The guitars are packed to the brim with delay effects and heavy reverb which really makes them sound heavenly and hunting with their enormous power and emotion. Every single member here shines on his instrument. Roye Albrighton's vocals are a significant part of the music presented, they're heavily tempered and distorted, reverbed and compressed at the same time.. The magic of this album is kind of hard for me to write in words, but something about it is very deep and unique. The story of the album may sound a bit silly when you don't read the lyrics, an astronaut in space intercepted by aliens who show him the errors of mankind and eventually sees the destruction of earth cause there is no helping earth or man. quite pessimistic. but when you read the lyrics along with the music it is very touching and one of my favourite albums lyrically-wise. bleak, morose, human. Ofcourse the album's concept alludes to drug use, looking within yourself and seeing things as they really are (okay not necessarily due to drugs but come on, it was 1971 and it's Nektar for god's sake) which is a theme I personally find very interesting. Overall, for me this album is certainly a masterpiece, musically and lyrically. Perhaps not the best album of Nektar but certainly one of their top 3, others being: 'Down To Earth' and 'A Tab In The Ocean'. 5 *****
Report this review (#163697)
Posted Tuesday, March 11, 2008 | Review Permalink
Finnforest
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
2 stars I must not be trippin yet

The problem with Nektar's "Journey" is not so much that they were "late to the party" though there is some truth to that, the problem is that their material is ho-hum. Nektar is a band that has never much impressed me. Their supposed classic "Remember the Future" was far outshone by their competition and was a rather repetitive sounding album. By 1974 other bands had covered similar ground more successfully and enjoyably to this listener. "Journey to the Centre of the Eye" has a few nice moments interspersed but as an album is below average in my view, presenting the rather cheesy side of psych (for '71) in a rambling absence of great songwriting. The album plods along with arbitrary spacey sounds linked to organ noodling followed by average guitar work and then a little thrown together vocal section. They really seem to be reacting to the musical scene of the day as opposed to following their own instincts---they seem frankly like they spent too little time in the composition stage and their album suffers for it. There is one particularly cool section in the middle of the album from "The Dream Nebula" through "It's all in the Mind." You'll find some interesting tortured psych-guitar here but it's nothing to write home about. For those interested in the history of psych-rock or the oft-mentioned pollination with Krautrock this may be a title of interest but it seems like a stretch to call it a recommended title to everyone, let alone an essential title as many have. The dreadful sound quality doesn't help matters much but there is a newer remastered version, perhaps if I had that one I might see the light.

Report this review (#166555)
Posted Sunday, April 13, 2008 | Review Permalink
SouthSideoftheSky
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Symphonic Team
2 stars Psychedelic Hard Rock!

Nektar is a band with many different faces. Each subsequent Nektar album, from this very debut from 1971 all the way up till their most recent releases in the present millennium, has been different from the previous ones. For the most part Nektar has been successful in trying out these different musical approaches while at the same time always retaining that distinctive Nektar flavour to all their work. However, not all of these different styles have been to my liking. On this album we find Nektar in a heavy Psychedelic mode and I must admit right from the start that this is not my favourite kind of Nektar. As far as the Nektar discography goes, I am personally much fonder of the band's later albums like Remember The Future and Recycled, or even the more recent Evolution, for that matter.

I find this debut album by Nektar very much of it's time. It is also a bit immature and underdeveloped, which is indeed symptomatic for Psychedelic Rock albums from this time. We find here some Psychedelic jamming in a rather Hard Rock setting. During the instrumental passages it often sounds a bit like a live recording by Deep Purple from around the same time. Melodically there is much to ask for! However, compared to most albums by Hawkwind or early Pink Floyd for example, Journey To The Centre Of The Eye holds up quite well in my opinion! If you like bands like that, you will probably like this one too.

There are some good moments pointing in the right direction, however. Things would improve greatly on Nektar's next album, A Tab In The Ocean, which I find much more interesting, developed and distinctive than this.

I would recommend this album only if you are a fan of the band, or if you are a follower of Psychedelic (as opposed to progressive) Rock from the 70's in general.

Report this review (#220313)
Posted Monday, June 8, 2009 | Review Permalink
Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars I think NEKTAR's first two albums are brilliant works of Psychedelic / Krautrock, but to be honest everything that they put out after those two recording does absolutely nothing for me. Like "A Tab In The Ocean" we have a concept album with drugs playing a major role in the lyrics. If you like mellotron this is their most 'tron filled album, in fact Andy from Planet Mellotron describes this record as "...proto-spacerock, with layers of delay effects and tripped out lyrics that the emerging genre demanded". All I know is that I had to have this after Tom Ozric and loserboy (both who have similar Krautrock / Psychedelic tastes) said it was a masterpiece. A lot of these tracks blend into one another allowing for a fairly seemless flow throughout.

"Prelude" opens with experimental sounds that build before it settles into a spacey soundscape. "Astronauts Nightmare" opens with drums and guitar. Processed vocals after a minute as it settles. It kicks back in with organ then passionate vocals arrive after 2 1/2 minutes followed by some ripping guitar.Themes are repeated. Just jamming 5 1/2 minutes in. "Countenance" opens with floating organ and mellotron as drums and guitar join in. The tempo picks up 2 minutes in with guitar leading the way. Nice. "The Nine Lifeless Daughters Of The Sun" is led by guitar and organ, it gets pretty intense before 2 1/2 minutes. "Warp Oversight" is experimental and psychedelic as strange sounds come and go.

"The Dream Nebula (Part 1)" is heavy to start with guitar and drums, vocals after a minute. I like this. "The Dream Nebula (Part 2)" is like "Part 1" but I like the way the guitar echoes here. "It's All In My Mind" sounds like the previous two tracks but check out the scorching guitar after 2 minutes. Amazing ! "Burn Out My Eyes" opens with synths as fragile vocals come in. They don't stay that way for long though.The music kicks in and out. I like the guitar/organ section around 4 minutes then they're on fire. "Void Of Vision" is uptempo with vocals. I love the vocals on "Pupil Of The Eye" and we get some smoking guitar after 1 1/2 minutes. The tempo and mood continues to shift. "Look Inside Yourself" is mellow with vocals and mellotron. "Death Of The Mind" continues with the vocals and mellotron but both get intense rather quickly. Drums pound away as they "rock out".

A masterpiece of Spacerock / Psychedelia.

Report this review (#241849)
Posted Monday, September 28, 2009 | Review Permalink
5 stars Alongside Recycled, I'm absolutely amazed that this priceless gem of an album is mucking about in the 3.5 range. A breathless, spinning, maddening concept record with guitars that roar and tremble like Blake's Rintrah, I consider Journey to the Centre of the Eye absolutely essential prog listening. Perfect in its harsh atonality, perfect in its moments of sedate beauty, perfect in its relentless flow, Nektar's debut bears little resemblance to their later discography. I've heard it hailed as revolutionary and damned as anachronistic; the truth is that it is, simply, a Nektar record, which removes it from the normal stream of time and space. I will confess that, had it been released before 1970, Journey would have been heralded as an absolutely essential entry in prog's seminal birth. As it is, Journey is a fondly remembered but little-lauded slice of prog oddity. I would encourage the potential listener to approach this record with an open mind and heart. Allow yourself to melt into the tremulous shiver of Roye Albrighton's searing guitar-and-vocal work. Believe me, you will be transported.
Report this review (#397059)
Posted Wednesday, February 9, 2011 | Review Permalink
BrufordFreak
COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars While my introduction to Nektar was with 1973's Remember the Future, I loved their sound enough to backtrack into their catalogue of past releases--and am so glad I did. Journey to the Centre of the Eye while being less polished, less of a seemless flow that RtF is, has some incredible music on it--and the utlra highs at the center of the album with the two "Dream Nebula" pieces and "It's All in the Mind"--and all this in a debut album! To achieve the extraordinary space-psychedelic sounds, Nektar chose some very heavily effected instrument tracks--particularly the vocals--as well as a heavy use of inter-channel panning effects. Unfortunately, there is a qualitative inconsistency as fade outs and fade ins start and stop several songs and the panning effect gets a little old as well--though might be considered masterful by some observers of the space-psych sub-genre. Still, this is an awesome beginning of a stretch of six years of great albums for this highly under-appreciated band.
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Posted Friday, February 18, 2011 | Review Permalink
Warthur
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars Pink Floyd's space rock sound was a real highlight of the late 1960s and early 1970s prog scene, but they never really produced a full album consisting of nothing but full-on space rock from beginning to end - unless you count the live side of Ummagumma, that is. Enter Nektar, who with their debut album staked their claim as being the heirs to Floydian space rock just as PF themselves were moving to a different phase of their career with Meddle.

The album has all the wailing guitars, spooky synths, and shimmering percussion you'd expect from Saucerful of Secrets-era Floyd, but with a conceptual structure that's tighter and more coherent than any of Pink Floyd's pre-Dark Side of the Moon albums. Nektar's entrance to the scene may owe a little to their inspirations, but it's still one hell of a start. And the band make into a monster, by all pulling together as a team...

Report this review (#485775)
Posted Monday, July 18, 2011 | Review Permalink
4 stars This is surely great start for these psychedelic rock legends, and I might suspect that this was also kind of early post rock album, too. Chemistry between instrumentalists, composition of the album, and overall atmosphere is really seductive. Really cool sound is given by roaring guitar, and excellent keyboard playing. There are some pieces which could have been better, and sometimes psychedelic atmosphere does not really work enough well. The most rememberable part are first two tracks after the intro, Astronaut's nightmare and Countenance. Roye Albrighton is surely one of the most underrated guitarists out there, and vocals are infectious too, reminding a bit to Greg Lake, but with their own identity and taste. Surely excellent addition to any collection of the greatest 20 century rock albums.
Report this review (#566724)
Posted Saturday, November 12, 2011 | Review Permalink
AtomicCrimsonRush
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
3 stars "Journey to the Centre of the Eye" is Nektar's debut and although I adored their trilogy of classics, "A Tab in the Ocean", "Remember The Future", and "Recycled", albums that were released with less inspired studio albums between them, I was not as taken with the debut. To begin with the debut is extremely psychedelic and not as rocking, with less memorable riffs and very little vocals. The psychedelic spaceyness is akin to the type of material on the first two studio releases for Pink Floyd. This album though is better than the Pink Floyd early releases as it does not wallow in silly lyrics or the plain weirdness of Barrett's mind. If this were a Pink Floyd album it would favour better than their "Saucerful of Secrets". However, the main problem I have with the debut is it seems to flow by quickly and at the end of it I can't remember a single track, and nothing resonated with me. Even though I played it a few more times for this review it still had no impact on me personally and I was very disappointed after loving the albums to follow, the next one being a masterpiece.

I am really fond of most of Nektar's material and some of it I would favour highly among the greatest prog rock of the 70s. However, this debut leaves me cold as it feels emotionless and just psychedelic for the sake of it. It is a Krautrock sound that is generated and I would rather Neu! or Faust if I want to indulge in Kraut. The band completely changed after this debut and produced some incredible albums with great riffs and melodies. This album is a beginning for Nektar with a seamless track broken into parts though I have no idea where one starts and another ends, and nothing jumped out apart from some excellent guitar riffs and melodies towards the end. By then I have lost interest and I am afraid this album barely rates 3 stars from this reviewer.

Though it deserves recognition for the musicianship which is accomplished and daring for its time so it is at least good enough or a listen. I can't comprehend the strange concept either. It is such a worthless concept when it is incomprehensible. The album liner notes state what it is all about but the music itself gives very little away. according to the liner notes it is the tale of a rocket departing planet Earth before a nuclear war breaks out. The occupants encounter bizarre galaxies never seen before by the eye of man; a state where time and space are immaterial. However "The all seeing eye", as seen on the album cover and in "2001: A Space Odyssey", is the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe. In other words psychobabble for the 'searching for spiritual answers' acid rock generation. I think the whole sound and concept is very outdated and the band lack the maturity to pull it off as some of the great psych acts have done.

I hate to rate Nektar so low when they produced the masterpieces to follow. I know that some reviewers gave it high ratings as it obviously resonated them in some way, but it is a very odd album with an over indulgence in repetitive acid fuelled ambience, and will not appeal to everyone. It really is a product of its time but is not quite good enough to stand the test of time by today's standards. I would just like to state emphatically that this album is definitely not the place to start for Nektar. You would be far better off grabbing the aforementioned albums as they are Nektar at their best.

Report this review (#615298)
Posted Saturday, January 21, 2012 | Review Permalink
stefro
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Real heady stuff from 1971, this extraordinary slab of acid-drenched psychedelia introduced the world to the sounds of British outfit Nektar. Continually mistaken for a German group due to their success in the land of krautrock, Nektar are one those curious groups who boast a large-and-loyal fanbase almost everywhere apart from their own homeland. Why you say? Well, it might have something to do with the fact that like The Beatles and many other British acts before them Nektar decided to hone their craft on the German club circuit, before the inevitable local chart success was followed by recognition throughout both mainland Europe and, latterly, the USA. However, whilst their later material embraced a much more progressive aesthetic, their first two albums mined a distinctly cosmic style that embraced strange sound effects, trippy sonic soundscapes and strange, sci-fi style concept themes that featured a distinctly teutonic streak. Not unlike Ash Ra Tempel bonded with Uriah Heep, 1971's 'Journey To The Centre Of The Eye' tells the mind-frying tale of astronauts experiencing strange happenings during some outer space quest to unknown alien galaxies and beyond. Its all rather bizarre, and don't be surprised if you can actually sniff the marijuana fumes eminating from the lysergic tones of Roye Albrighton's cosmic guitar licks, as yes, its that kind of album. However, it has to be said that 'Journey To The Centre Of The Eye' also features some incredible moments amongst all the not-so-subtle drug references and science-fiction exploits, the album chopped up into thirteen sections that includes the roaring proto-psychedelic metal of the fearsome 'Astronaut's Nightmare' and the searing guitar licks and tribal percussion assaults of the suitably-titled 'Burn Out My Eyes'. Eventually, the album closes on a genuinely grandiose note, as screeching riffs, doom-mongering keyboards and sizzling sound effects erupt in a final blast of cosmic madness on 'Death Of The Mind', and the Journey is finally complete. Never before have the words 'one of a kind experience' been so apt. STEFAN TURNER, STOKE NEWINGTON, 2012
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Posted Friday, September 14, 2012 | Review Permalink
5 stars First time I listened to this album was at the age of 16 in 1975. I've never heard such a musical artwork before and was stunned. It wasn't just rock'n roll but symphonic electric music. The telephone voice of Roye Albrighton turning into crystal clear and his wizardry on guitar underlaid by A.T. Freeman's synths - that was absolutely a combination i fell in love with. From "Burn out my Eyes" to the end it is so perfect in it's entity, you won't ask for more. Almost 40 Years later "The Eye" is still the most important prog album for me. Even Nektar hasn't reached that level again with their following albums, although i like some of them very much indeed.
Report this review (#985123)
Posted Monday, June 24, 2013 | Review Permalink
FragileKings
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars This is not an easy album to appreciate despite the great effort that went in to creating it. Nektar had already recorded some fairly standard rock songs, which became known as the Boston Tapes, in 1970. However, when it came time to record a debut, the band insisted straight out on a concept album, a story about an astronaut who is met by aliens who take him to their galaxy where he learns to see with his mind and gains the power of the All- seeing Eye.

The band had it all figured out with songs telling the chapters of the story, instrumental parts providing music for the story, and lots of in-studio effects created with their equipment alone. The CD liner notes say that Frank Zappa was very impressed with the band's studio innovation and was interested in signing them to his own label. That, however, didn't pan out. Finding a label to take a new band and release a debut album that was based on a science fiction story and didn't seem to feature any good singles was a problem. But at last "Journey to the Centre of the Eye" was released with all the band's space effects, loud guitar and organ, and some instrumental segments that bordered on classical music performed by a heavy psych band.

I've listened to this album a few times now spaced out over several months (the listening periods were spaced out, not me) and some individual tracks a couple of times more. It's not an album for pulling apart, though "Burn out My Eyes" is good enough to stand alone. This is an album better suited for playing all the way through and then while reading the story details provided in the CD booklet. For just listening without knowing what is going on can have you wondering if someone didn't spend a little too much money for a group of guys to make experimental noise in the studio.

There are moments when I could imagine that this is what the Moody Blues could have been if they had dropped all the classical instruments and just went for all out space rock. Or perhaps there are some wires crossed with Ziggy Stardust. Did some of Pink Floyd's more adventurous studio efforts on "Ummagumma" have any influence here?

What makes this so difficult to assign a star rating to is that this could be a really brilliant album that is suffering just a bit too much from a weak recording and/or mixing. The vocals often sound like they were recorded in a room down the hall with the door open while the louder instruments sound like the speakers were crowding the mics. Actually, the first three Nektar albums all sound quite similar, though "A Tab in the Ocean" has some better examples of progressive rock in so far as tight and complex compositions are concerned. Here it's more the effort at creating a space suspense story soundtrack that earns Nektar prog cred.

I'd really like to say Nektar started their recording career with a stunning piece of work, but honestly it is not as easy to enjoy as "A Tab in the Ocean" or the much better "Remember the Future". This is a little too far out on a low budget for me to call it an excellent addition to any prog collection. Good but not essential would also depend. I hate to say it's for collectors and fans only but I can't feel justified in giving this one too much praise. High points for creativity and effort, but I feel the end result is an acquired taste.

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Posted Saturday, September 27, 2014 | Review Permalink
Aussie-Byrd-Brother
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
Honorary Collaborator
4 stars A British band operating out of Hamburg, Germany in their early days, Nektar are one of the most popular and well known psychedelic and melodic spacerock bands from the Seventies in progressive rock related circles. Despite being released in 1971, `Journey To The Centre of the Eye' hangs on to definite late 60's acid rock and psychedelic sounds, very much along the lines of the early Pink Floyd albums, as well as sophisticated Moody Blues- like vocal harmonies backed by walls of Mellotron, and perhaps even just a touch of the Beatles psych-pop here and there as well. An early take on developing spacerock atmospheres, ambient hallucinogenic passages and even some slight droning repetitive Krautrock flavours are all wrapped up in gutsy symphonic prog ambitions, and with all the individual pieces running together, the album works up a seamless drifting flow.

Opening with splintering electric guitar bubbles over droning organ in the manner of `Piper/Saucerful' era Floyd, the band quickly move back and forth in tempo between dreamy and mellow passages with vocals wrapped in other-worldly eerie treated effects and chugging hard-rock guitar grunt, with blaring upfront delirious Hammond organ soloing. Mellotron and Hammond float and quickly rise in `Countenance', not unlike the final section of Floyd's `A Saucerful of Secrets', and while the urgent drumming gives it a more powerful and frantic quality, the sighing wordless harmonies are even more victorious and confident. Deep-space keyboards, feedback wailing guitars and punishing drumming swirl together in a tornado of mind-shattering noise, and random ear-splitting psychedelic shimmerings slice through the dark.

The second side fades in on the remainder of `The Dream Nebula' with chiming guitar ripples, leading into the Moody Blues-inspired `It's All In the Mind', pleasing vocals over scratchy regal Mellotron with muscular and rapid-fire electric guitar strains bringing a storming heaviness. `Burn Out My Eyes' is the classic part of the album, a warm rocking ballad section with echoing fragile vocals and wasted toasty harmonies that float around. There's humming droning Hammond organ and snarling delirious acid-rock guitar shreds in the lengthy instrumental break in the middle, bringing even a bit of plodding Hawkwind- style menace. The harpsichord driven `Void of Vision' moves through playful and almost comical psych-pop in the style of the Beatles, then a twisting piano and bluesy harder guitar passage before closing on a soaring reprise of the opening track to bring a sense of complete closure.

Nektar would go on to make more mature and sophisticated albums within the years after this one, but in some ways they never made a better record than this debut. There's no doubt that it's a little dated, very much a product of its time and a little rough around the edges with a somewhat uninspired production, but there's that youthful spark and creative hunger throughout the album that showcased a band searching in all sorts of directions. The next few albums would see them honing their song-writing skills and sharpening up their sound, but the fragile, lost-in-space quality throughout `Journey to the Centre of the Eye' makes it an exhilarating and thrilling debut that followers of vintage psych and spacerock will love.

Four stars.

Report this review (#1295290)
Posted Thursday, October 23, 2014 | Review Permalink
b_olariu
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars Nekatar is without doubt one of the unfairly underrated prog bands from the '70s. To me Recycled remaining their absolut masterpiece and one of the few mid 70 prog albums that I'm listning constantly. I can't saying I'm really attached on their debut from 1971. While is far from bad I don't understand how can this album named Journey to the center of the eye considered as essential or even masterpiece of prog rock. Is quite dated in sound, even there are also some complex passages filled with nice guitars and good mellotron, but as a whole is not so intresting as later albums. Spacey parts melted with almsot krautrock elements make from this debut only a fairly good one but far from excellent as many pretend to be. 3 stars is best I can give, Tab in the ocean. Remeber the future and of course Recycled are far more intresting albums from their repertoire, at least for me.

Report this review (#1492660)
Posted Thursday, November 26, 2015 | Review Permalink
4 stars In impressive start for the band, balancing between their English prog nature and their krautrock influences.

Some VERY good songs, a very powerful A-Side and a somewhat weaker but still worthy B-Side create an album that every serious prog listener should have.

"Astronaut's Nightmare" and "Countenance" are the best songs of the album in my opinion, majestic and all, very close to the Yes sound. The vocals on "Countenance" could be inspired by the now legendary "Child In Time" by Deep Purple, which was released with the "In Rock" album only a year earlier.

The highly rated compilation "Retrospective 1969-1980" chooses 6 songs out of this album and 6 out of "Recycled"; no other album has more songs, and that definitely means a lot.

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Posted Wednesday, August 3, 2016 | Review Permalink
DamoXt7942
FORUM & SITE ADMIN GROUP
Avant/Cross/Neo/Post Teams
4 stars Exactly one of the most Krautrock-proclaiming combos is the UK legend NEKTAR. The first album "Journey To The Centre Of The Eye' should be well characterized as a German rock with obvious acidity and subtle pop nuance. Every single song is not so long but clearly filled with power of psychedelia leaning towards Amon D''l II. It's fine for me to touch directly this Krauty flavour because such an atmospheric musical sensitivity cannot be herd via their other creations. Quite comfortable and addictive is guitar fuzzes and bubbling keyboard / mellotron vibes along with hallucinogenic, repetitive melody lines with hints of 60s psychedelic vanguards all over the world. Their unrefined, unpolished creativity or artificial, forced production (cannot feel they use sound effects skillfully, honest to say) through this debut album is good for me too

'Countenance' is a beautiful spacey ambience created with crying guitar plays and authentic mellotron streams. From 'The Dream Nebura Suite' until 'It's All In The Mind', weird and mysterious melody lines and inorganic psychedelic artifacts around the lines make me smiley. Guess lots of younger artists would have climbed the 'Nektar Mountain' up in early 70s. On the contrary, I see they would not have consolidated their purpose or the best way to go. Such a floating attitude of theirs is not so bad and the fans would tell them where they should go since then, I guess. Above all else, I can find my pleasure via their soundscape under construction for developing and getting innovative. At least for me, it's kinda happiness to find the same vein of a Japanese acid folk pride The Folk Crusaders in them.

Report this review (#1853059)
Posted Tuesday, January 2, 2018 | Review Permalink
5 stars Achtung! NEKTAR are NOT German, despite the band being formed in Munich at the tail end of the 1960's, and despite them being based in Germany for much of their career. No, this band are as British as tea and crumpets and a game of croquet on an English summer lawn. Nektar have had a long and illustrious career, with many changes of line-up along the way, and it all began with this spacey album, the intriguingly-titled " Journey to the Centre of the Eye" (1971). The band are still going strong 13 albums and nearly 50 years later with their latest album "The Other Side" due for release in 2020. This album consists of 13 tracks, although it's really just one long spacey suite of music as there are no noticeable breaks between the songs. Let's travel back in time now to the halcyon days of 1971 and take a "Journey to the Centre of the Eye."

The album opens appropriately enough with "Prelude". This brief 1-minute prelude features spooky, swirling sound effects and mysterious noises to put you in the mood for some classic Space Rock. We're in Hawkwind territory here, so hold on tight and prepare for an ""Astronaut's Nightmare". Strangely, the opening to this song reminds one of a Beatles' number, but that first impression doesn't last for long. This is pretty impressive stuff with the keyboard player going hell for leather on the Hammond organ and with the singer sounding like he's on some far-out psychedelic acid trip. The guitarist is no slouch either as he fires off some stunning guitar leads, not to mention the drummer, who's pounding away on his kit in true Space Rock tradition. It's freaky, it's spacey, it's mysterious, but most important of all, this is great music. Prepare to be amazed! If you can't "Countenance" that, then how about this, because this is Track 3: "Countenance". The pace is now slowed down somewhat with some very pleasant and laid back organ playing. Don't be fooled though, because that was just the opening and there's a wild psychedelic guitarist on the loose and he's here to show you what he's made of with some good solid riffing. The song ascends triumphantly into a tremendously uplifting crescendo of sound to take you into Space Rock heaven. We now arrive at "The Nine Lifeless Daughters of the Sun" which is presumably about the nine planets of the solar system, although there's nothing lifeless about the Earth, or indeed this instrumental rip-roaring organ-driven number. Onwards now at Warp Factor 5 to Track No. 5 "Warp Oversight". There are lots of spacey plinky-plonky noises to be heard in this eerie number with a Hawkwind-style spacey rhythm phasing in and out of the mix. It's all very atmospheric and mysterious, but no less than you'd expect from a classic Space Rock album. We're now almost halfway through our journey as "The Dream Nebula I" closes out Side One. Just lie back and enjoy because this is beautiful music, and there's more to come too as "The Dream Nebula II" continues on the opening of Side Two of the album. "It's All in the Mind" is up next, although it's not all in the mind that this is a great song and a superb album overall. And now onto "Burn Out My Eyes", the longest track on the album, running at nearly 8 minutes long. Again, this is another song that's designed to carry you into orbit on a rocket- propelled blast of Hammond organ, wild guitar riffs and a powerful singer soaring on a wave of emotion. Onwards now to "Void of Vision", a manic free-for-all as the Hammond organist takes off on a flight of fancy, throwing caution to the wind. Track 11 "Pupil of the Eye" gallops along at impressive speed, firing on all cylinders with a pounding rhythm and the vocalist giving it his all and more besides, in the style of David Byron of Uriah Heep. "Look Inside Yourself" now for the penultimate song on the album with our fantastic journey nearly at an end. It's a short 1-minute barnstormer of a song which takes us into "Death of the Mind" to close out the album. The grand finale to the album is a bombastic and grandiose song full of triumphal pomp and ceremony to conclude this superb album in fine style. The journey ends, but this was just the beginning for Nektar!

This marvellous album of classic Space Rock has really stood the test of time and it's sure to delight fans of Hawkwind. The album sounds as fresh today nearly 50 years on, as it did at the time of its release when Space Rock was just taking off, way back in 1971. "Journey to the Centre of the Eye" deserves a treasured place in any Prog-Rock/Space Rock music lover's collection. With a debut album as impressive as this, Nektar's later albums have got to be well-worth a listen too.

Report this review (#2284036)
Posted Monday, November 25, 2019 | Review Permalink
5 stars I have to be honest, as of November 2022, this is my all-time favourite album. The debut album from Nektar, Journey to the Centre of the Eye.

My longstanding favourite was The Dark Side of The Moon. It always made me feel like I was floating in the stratosphere, away from the entire world. But Journey, literally blew me off to a different galaxy. I had never felt so immersed and in sync with a piece of music quite like this before hearing it for the first time a couple of months back. Whether it is the obsolutely top-notch production( super impressive if you consider the era and the band's resources at the time imo), the screaming reverb-and-delay-fuelled guitars, the powerful yet gentle vocals, the naive lyrics which I always find a way to relate to, or the superb work on the keys, I find the overall sound very full and dense, in the best possible way.

From the very first listen, from the very first seconds, I realized this wouldn't be just another prog album with an intresting album cover. It starts with a creepy intro, but doesn't take long in introducing the spacey atmosphere. The third track "Countenance" is forever engraved in my heart. One time I was so immersed into the music, my forehead and belly were actually went numb for a few seconds. I am not joking you. Then the album takes an instrumental and exprimental turn, which I admire for how abstract it is while still being a part of constructing the mood. Then, The Dream Nebula suddenly bursts on and sets the direction for the rest of the album. Following is an amazing second side with many twists and turns, gorgeous melodies and emotional vocals. Eventually after such a Journey(pun intended), it all ends where it started, with a beautiful reprise of 'Astronaut's Nightmare" 's main melody.

The entire record is very cohesive and trully serves as a 40 minute continuous piece. In general, I believe Nektar is a band that can offer a lot to any listener throughout its discography, I think there is something for everyone to really enjoy within it. I absolutely love 'A Tab in the Ocean' and 'Remember The Future', but 'Journey' has that extra touch for me. There are moments where my whole life flashes right in front of me. Where so many emotions are created by what I am hearing that I only listen to it every little while because that's how sacred it is to me. I believe it is at least worth a try, even if the space rock/krautrock combination doesn't sound like your cup of tea. I am forever grateful to Nektar and the entire team behind this album for their wonderful creation.

Report this review (#2849460)
Posted Wednesday, November 2, 2022 | Review Permalink
4 stars Excellent debut that integrates -quite skilfully in my opinion- the hard rock of the time, psychedelia, the spatial sounds that derive from it and the dynamics that would later become the standard of progressive rock. An album, moreover, that is thought of as a single piece, although with two differentiated parts: the first -the 'side A'-, which flows as a single song with several mostly instrumental sections; and the second - side B-, which gives the impression that the band composed several songs or 'themes', to later order all the material and create a single piece that is more varied and has a more hectic pace than the first: being the common denominator the acid, distorted and sharp sound of the guitar; but also the dreamy melodies and understated harmonies of the organ and mellotron.
Report this review (#2852604)
Posted Wednesday, November 16, 2022 | Review Permalink
siLLy puPPy
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR
PSIKE, JRF/Canterbury, P Metal, Eclectic
5 stars NEKTAR was sort of the odd duck out in the early years of Germany's Krautrock scene due to the fact that the band was a group of four Englishmen who met in Hamburg in 1969 and jumped on the space rock bandwagon. Formed in 1969, the original lineup featured guitarist and lead vocalist Roye Albrighton, keyboardist Allan "Taff" Freeman, bassist Derek "Mo" Moore, and drummer Ron Howden who together would become one of the most successful progressive rock bands to have emerged from Germany's fertile weirdo music scene. The band was notorious for delivering incredible light shows and live performances. The first of the band's greatest releases, it all began with this debut JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF THE EYE which was inspired by the works of sci-fi guru H.P. Lovecraft.

Despite having formed in Germany in the midst of the emerging Krautrock scene, NEKTAR looked as much back to its homeland for its influences as it did to the lysergic musical expressions that were awash all around. This first album was an amazing continuous journey of spacey prog that excelled in both guitar and organ dominance. The album was a veritable cosmic travelogue in concept album form that narrated the journey of a rocket that leaves Earth on a course to Saturn in order to escape the inevitability of a nuclear war. While en route the ship is intercepted by extraterrestrial beings that are perplexed by humanity's war driven civilization and invite the space travelers to witness their more peaceful world in another galaxy. After accepting the invitation to the ET's home world, they undergo a a journey into the unknown only to return back to Earth in an enlightened state.

The musical developments correspond to the journey itself as the lyrical output delivers the concept. Some even consider the album a rock opera of sort. While the space rock lysergia of Pink Floyd's "Sauceful of Secrets" was clearly a primary impetus for the trippy abstract qualities, NEKTAR fortified the escapist electronica and cosmic psychedelia with melodic songwriting and conventional rock influences reminiscent of The Moody Blues coupled with vocal harmonies that were right out of The Beatles' playbook. The intricate mix of the surreal and the catchy ear worms delivered the perfect mix of prog, psychedelic rock and progressive electronic in perfect tandem. The album was only 42 minutes long but showcased the journey in a series of 13 tracks that more or less provided a continuous stream of consciousness. The variations in guitar styles, drumming patterns and bass grooves offered a near perfect space rock journey that remains one of the 70s best tripped out prog rock offerings.

The opening "Prelude" sets the stage with a series of freaky electronic sound effects while the spooky organ slinks in and cements itself as a primary player throughout the album's run. The flirtation with the Floydian "Saucerful of Secrrets" detachment is quickly supplanted by a melodic space rock groove that commences with "Astronaut's Nightmare." The brooding organ and pulsating bass line together accompany passionate vocal performances delivered by all the band members and plenty of proggy hairpin turns to keep things from becoming too lethargic. While not quite to the level of prog rock experienced on the following "A Tab In The Ocean," JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EYE certainly has its moments of prog excesses but keeps things restrained enough so the cosmic space rock flow isn't breeched. The top notch interplay of the fluky guitar, drum and organ parts adds a whole level of excitability to the melodic processions. The intermission track "War Oversight" embarks on a cosmic journey into the avant-garde sounding more like a 20th century classical composer.

The compositions themselves are extremely well thought out with a clever use of dynamics, tempos and reverberation as an effective tool. Extended jamming emerges in the middle of the tracks which eke out maximum potential and was also a very effective way of capturing the spirit of a well crafted space rock sound. This would be the closest NEKTAR ever came to sounding like a true Krautrock band and although some may have thrown the band into the mix due to its connection to the German prog scene, NEKTAR was really a prog space rock band that happened to coincide with bands like A.R. & Machines, Faust, Frumpy and Lucifer's Friend. While usually overlooked in favor of the band's following albums that were more conventional in their approach to prog, this early space rock journey debut album has been my favorite NEKTAR album for quite some time and although not absolutely perfect with a few hiccoughs here and there, the album is one of those magical prog journeys that stands on its own even outside of the band's own canon.

4.5 stars rounded up as this has come to be one of my most favorite space rock albums of the entire 70s

Report this review (#3032172)
Posted Friday, March 22, 2024 | Review Permalink

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