TIME MACHINE

Time Machine is the fourth studio release since Nektar's comeback in the new millennium (not counting the unnecessary cover album A Spoonful Of Time). Out of these four albums 2004's Evolution is my favourite, but Time Machine holds up well with the other recent Nektar albums such as the previous Book Of Days. This time they have enlisted Billy Sherwood (ex-Yes) to play bass as well as to mix and produce the album. Sherwood's Chris Squire-like bass guitar and production talents have left their stamp on this album and is a nice addition to the classic Nektar sound which is still carried by Roye Albrighton's vocals and guitars and Ron Howden's drums and backing vocals. The four man line-up is completed by Klaus Henatsch on keyboards. Some moments even have a slight Sherwood-era Yes feel.

Perhaps it comes with their age, but the mood and themes are generally reflective and backward-looking. It is fair to say that this album has a somewhat softer edge and more ballads than some previous albums, but this is mostly for the better as some of the band's previous attempts to Rock out were less than successful. Especially when they drifted into plain Blues Rock--thankfully, there's none of that here. The material took some time to sink in, and I was initially somewhat disappointed. But after repeated listens a set of good songs revealed itself. The only exception is the embarrassing, Mexican-flavoured Set Me Free, Amigo which I would rather have done without altogether! There are no stand-out tracks as such, but the rest of the songs are all worthy.

Anyone coming to this album expecting another Remember The Future or Recycled is bound to be underwhelmed by Time Machine. But those whose taste extends deeper into the Nektar catalogue (and especially if it covers the band's more recent efforts as well as the older classics) are probably going to like this one too. It is hardly revolutionary, but it maintains the good quality that I have come to expect from Nektar.

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