A TAB IN THE OCEAN

Nektar's Tab in the Ocean is a wonderful mix of subtly and bombast. In it's very tight running time we're given a handful of well-composed works that sweep us up in a journey that feels symphonic and psychedelic while also cranking out jams with a rock-your-socks off attitude. One moment you're drifting through Neptune's world with the jellyfish and sea turtles, taking in a palette of sensations through the band's thoughtful use of open space, the next you're building momentum to grand, dramatic crescendos that rise like a wave and crash on the shore to the irresistible guitar riffing tone of '70's hard rock perfection.

The album plays like two extended pieces, emphasizing the group's guitar players with a bottom-heavy intensity that grabs hold of you like a rip-tide. While a little rough around the edges and showing the production quality on the low end of what the era could produce, Tab in the Ocean is a great prog rock album. Nektar ups their game from their debut, the more abstract and spacey Journey to the Center of the Eye, showing us a strong sense of energy and performance. This album is simply a ton of fun, even though it's not as strongly written as some of their later works.

If you enjoy the early '70's sound of prog or fuzz-heavy guitar goodness, then I highly recommend Tab in the Ocean. It may not be the go-to Nektar album, but it's so much fun that it's easy to overlook the album's shortcomings. Don't miss out on this great release by one of prog-rock's under rated groups!

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

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