THE OTHER SIDE

Now, I do have 10 of the first 11 Nektar albums (just realised I am missing 2001's 'The Prodigal Son' for some unknown reason) but I lost track of the band of late and haven't heard anything since 2008's 'Book of Days'. Sadly, Roye Albrighton passed away in 2016, and since then there has been a schism in the ranks and now there is both Nektar and New Nektar doing the rounds. Given that the version based in Germany does not feature any founding members, nor in fact anyone who played with the band prior to 2007, there is no doubt in my mind as to which one is the real deal. Nektar feature founding members Ron Howden (drums, percussion, backing vocals), Derek "Mo" Moore (bass, keyboards, vocals and lyrics) and Mick Brockett (visual interpretation and lyrics: it is interesting to note he is one of the few full members of a band who doesn't actually play). They currently also have Ryche Chlanda on guitars and vocals (who was also in the band in 1978), Randy Dembo on bass, bass pedals and backing vocals (and was in the band between 2003 and 2006) and brand-new keyboard player Kendall Scott.

This is the first studio album since Roye passed away, so it was never going to be easy to capture that classic Nektar sound, but somehow, they have done just that. Not only does this album sound as if it was recorded in the Seventies (and the dated keyboard sounds being utilised are obviously a large part of that), but some of it was actually written (and performed) back then, and there are even further surprises for Nektar fans. The 1978 unrecorded song "Skypilot" has now been turned into "Skywriter", and was even released as a single, with new lyrics by Mick, Mo and Ryche. "I'm On Fire" is the musical adaptation of a poem written by Mo for his soon-to-be wife, Nicki, during that same time period of 1978, but the real surprise here is closing track, "Devil's Door". Although it was actually performed live as long ago as 1974, it never featured on a Nektar album. The song has been updated and recorded especially for this album, but the introductory guitar part is taken from a live soundboard recording from 1974 featuring of course Roye Albrighton.

Roye's presence is all over this album, with the guys ensuring this is a real tribute to him, looking back in time yet also showing they have a strong future ahead of them. I have long been a Nektar fan, and this album is sheet delight. For anyone who has ever enjoyed the band, or loves classic Seventies-style progressive rock, then this is essential.

NEKTAR is a very old progressive rock group, having mainly worked in psyche-rock since 1969. It is an English group which was founded in the city of Hamburg and which delivered good big hard rock with a lot of synths , which gave them a psyche genre in the same way that the first PINK FLOYD, HAWKWIND and URIAH HEEP or DEEP PURPLE could be influenced by it somewhere; like also a little CAMEL or CARAVAN. Only Derek MOORE and Ron HOWDEN of the original group remain today and they took over the name of the group in 2018, touring until then with other musicians from 2000 to 2016. This is their 15th album. which comes out at the beginning of the year. Personally, I only have one album from them, the very successful "Remember The Future" with a melodic prog side and a little fruity pop. Released in two stages, late 2019 and early 2020, we get a little lost, but the title of the album tells you about the vagaries of life and the passage to the other side of some of their members.

"I'm On Fire" begins the album with a rock metal title a little blues metal, written and sung by Mo Moore for his wife in 1978, a title with old sounds it is true but with intense instrumental convolutions after the phase sung; Varied variations to set the rhythm a bit AOR like on the first KANSAS or BOSTON, although much younger than them; the sound is a bit dated, vintage without doing it on purpose. "Skywriter" follows with a title where Ron's sticks set the pace, the rhythm before Ryche's warm voice leaves the magic working; soft tune almost good for a slow, the catchy chorus then goes on an instrumental sequence where the synth returns the favor to the guitar with the sustained rhythm of the two basses; there is the Hammond organ as in the days of PROCOL HARUM, there is above all a good digression of virtuosos despite their age. "Love Is / The Other Side" arrives with the centerpiece of the album on a tone that ALAN PARSONS PROJECT would not have denied; It's nice but it's also very agreed at the beginning with few progressive hooks actually and it will take until the 8'40 '' to see the notes take off. In any case the musical and instrumental magic operates between Ryche, Kendall and Ron as on this magnificent piano arpeggio around 11 'which will bring a no less moving guitar solo in the blues and symphonic lowlands, a bit like GARY MOORE . Here a lot of the rhythm and convolutions make me think of the great CARAVAN, quite simply. "Drifting" follows with a pompous intro, synth, enlightened drums, everything is crystal clear, the voice well put forward further accentuating the symphonic effect; here the psychedelic is in its firmament and it is definitely one of the best tracks on the album, the guitar solos having something to do with it with this reverberation bordering on distortion. Be careful, this title can send you into a space trance, my best title.

"Devil's Door" opens the next track with a sweet tune with a symphonic and acoustic guitar intro sprinkled with cool notes (yes that's a bit weird in definition, looks like a meal!); the sequel starts with a rock rhythm well anchored in the 70's with organ play and hoarse voice, warm a bit like Joe COCKER but softer. It must be said that part of the guitar comes straight from the late Roye ALBRIGHTON's playing, a title played in 1974 but never recorded on a CD. The twirling guitar gives a good moment of pure rock here without real drawer or progressive break, like Gary MOORE in his romantic stroll moments; psychedelic blues in fact. 'The Light Beyond' comes in for the shortest track and my favorite 2nd, a synth solo from Scott in the early lineage of what VANGELIS could release like on 'Antarctica' and its repetitive streak; an ethereal atmospheric space track that will pass as an introduction to their future live shows. "Look Through Me" for an acoustic song by Ryche, a little sluggish and goes everywhere despite the addition of the synth halfway through. Fortunately, "Y Can't I Be More Like U 2020" closes the album with a punchier track again, a dry guitar intro at the start, then a warm song with its almost Canterbury more than psychedelic touch; the musicians give it their all and you can feel their pleasure in playing together.

"The Other Side" is more a series of delirious jams in my opinion in the psyche-canterbury lineage with the obvious desire to have fun after a long crossing of the desert, if we remember that a number of tracks were composed during the beginning of the 70's. The NEKTARs like many groups of the 80s or 70s come out of their retirement, their lethargy to prove that they are good musicians. NEKTAR is all that at the same time, they are just getting older, their sound is feeling it, their fans will be delighted to find them there they left them a few years ago..

50 years of music, 15 studio albums, an amazing cartel of past and present musicians (some of them unfortunately not longer amongst us), immensely influential compositions?Nektar. What surprises me the most is that their latest studio album from 2020, The Other Side, its actually so good that is considered top 5 within their catalog, and believe me when I say that it is quite a strong catalog containing a few classic gems of the genre, that's how good this album is! Founder line-up is still represented by no other than the rhythmic section, Mr. Ron Howden on drums and percussion and Mr. Derek Moore on bass and vocals?how lucky we are! Galactic Lord-like powerful organ opens the album with I'm on Fire?I agree, they are! 21st Century psychedelic 70's rock, not so far from A Tab in the Ocean, Remember The Future or Recycled, outstanding guitar playing, unbeatable drum and bass and well suited keys, smartly chosen opener for their last studio album. PPP, pure prog power! And the production helps a lot to the flawless sound, proper of its era. Skywriter?this is how I wish a 2020 Beatles radio single would sound like, perfect! As if Lennon & McCartney would have joined Tommy Shaw and Dennis Deyoung for a recording session. Catchy hooks and choruses, memorable lyrical content?Chandla & Scott do such a wonderful job and are such a good addition to the band?Nektar deserves them, they deserve Nektar. The incredible epic, the astonishing 17 plus minutes track, Love Is / The Other Side? refreshing if we consider the melodies, the 80s feel behind the rhythm and tempo, with some vocal harmonies exploration, sometimes so familiar, sometimes kind of mysterious and even unexpected, even though there's not much surprises here, it rocks and it rolls in a prog and psychedelic way, like everything Nektar does, managing the long timing in a manner it just flows without even being noticed, easy listening but twisted enough to cause intrigue?yeah! Last 5 minutes deserve a place in the intergalactic radio, vein cutting guitar solo that just emphasizes the incredible connection between Mo and Ron, a 50 year long connection, and it shows. Drifting?the psychedelic and mellow mostly instrumental sinister ballad. A true gem inside the album, a true gem for the 2020 prog world, a true gem for music in a whole. Powerful more modern prog irrupts the scene with Devil's Door, combining Neo Prog with funky symphonic psychedelia, very Nektar style, back to early mid seventies?one of my favorites because its positive but still somehow mysterious. I really love the guitar work here, but the synth solo takes me to space and then opens the door for more guitar galore? 1 million thumbs up! The Light Beyond bruna exactly that, some light! A very welcomed instrumental passage involving various synth layers and playful crafting, necessary to properly digest the musical avalanche that preceded it. It Also helps the beautiful Look Thru Me to blend in, slower and mellow that everything heard so far, more storytelling in its concept and pleasantly acoustic. A nice place for Kendall Scott to showcase his talent and a perfect side A for the last song of the album, the even prettier Y Can't I Be More Like U, with impossible not-to-remember hooks and an extremely mature sound, experience is evident and these psychedelic prog veterans really know how to profit from it. Every instrument sounds fantastic and in strong cohesion, bringing all they have to the table, the ideas, the melodies and the greatness. I hope this line-up perdures and hopefully delivers more masterful music like this in the near future. THE END