01	Recycle						02:44
	02	Cybernetic Consumption						02:12
	03	Recycle Countdown						01:53
	04	Automation Horrorscope						03:02
	05	Recycling						01:49
	06	Flight To Reality						01:18
	07	Unendless Imaginations						04:37
	08	Sao Paulo Sunrise						03:03
	09	Costa Del Sol						04:03
	10	Marvellous Moses						06:35
	11	It's All Over						05:20

Nektar - Recycled

Released: 1975
Label: Bellaphon
Cat. No.: 289-09-003
Total Time: 36:40


Reviewed by: Eric Porter, March 2002
Nektar is a band that flew under my radar for years; I knew of them, but nothing about them. When it was announced that not only would Nektar close the first night of Nearfest 2002, but also would reform with all the original members, it was time to give the band a listen.

1975's Recycled was the bands fourth release and the addition of Larry Fast's synthesizers expanded the band's sound. Side One (tracks 1-7) runs together as one continuous piece of often "recycling" musical themes. The instrumental "Cybernetic Consumption" contains a lot of electronic effects, mixed with more traditional symphonic keyboard sounds. Side Two also has all the tracks bleeding into each other, but I can't really pick up on a concept. "Sao Paulo Sunrise" leads into "Costa Del Sol" with some nice piano work. The symphonic closing of "It's All Over" seems like it would be more in line with the older Nektar sound. The more I listened, the better I connected with the music, but nothing really knocks my socks off here. I find myself on the fence with Nektar, I neither love nor hate what I am hearing.

Albrighton's guitar work gets talked about often, but failed to make an impact on me. Most of the tracks are keyboard based, as the addition of Fast possibly reduced Albrighton's role. From researching the band's history, they reinvented their sound a number of times. The early work appears to be more psychedelic, and Albrighton's guitar work apparently takes center stage. I have not given up on the band, as I plan on getting at least one more CD before making a final decision. With their reunion for NEARFest 2002, it should be a true delight for fans. I will put my hand back in the honey jar, but as for Recycled, my first taste of Nektar was not as sweet as I had hoped.

More about Recycled:

Track Listing: Recycle (2:44) / Cybernetic Consumption (2:12) / Recycle Countdown (1:53) / Automation Horrorscope (3:02) / Recycling (1:49) / Flight To Reality (1:18) / Unendless Imaginations (4:37) / Sao Paulo Sunrise (3:03) / Costa Del Sol (4:03) / Marvellous Moses (6:35) / It's All Over (5:20)

Musicians:
Roye Albrighton - guitar, vocals
Derek Moore - bass
Alan Freeman - keyboards
Ron Howden - drums
Larry Fast - synthesizers

Contact:

Website: www.geocities.com/cnektar/index.html
Note: will open new browser window

Discography

Journey To The Centre Of The Eye (1970)
A Tab In The Ocean (1970)
Sounds Like This (1973)
Remember The Future (1974)
Down To Earth (1974)
Sunday Night At London Roundhouse (1974)
Recycled (1975)
Nektar (1976)
Magic Is A Child (1976)
Live In New York (1977)
More Live In New York (1977)
Thru The Ear (1978)
Man In The Moon (1980)
The Prodigal Son (2001)





Nektar [Germany]
Journey To The Centre Of The Eye (71), A Tab In The Ocean (72), Sounds Like This (73), Remember The Future (73), Sunday Night Live At The Roundhouse (74), Down To Earth (74), Recycled (75), Live In New York (77), More Live In New York (78), Magic Is A Child (78), Thru The Ears (78), Man In The Moon (80), Nektar (93, comp. from first three LPs),

Execellent euro-rock band on the verge of progressive that put out quite a few monsters including Tab In The Ocean and Remember The Future Went commercial-prog after RTF.

Germany's answer to such space rock groups as Pink Floyd and Hawkwind. Their 1974 tour included floating scenes from extraterrestial planets. Remember the Future is classic and should be in everyones library. Its a single song, two-sided composition with lush synthesizers and ethereal singing.

Nektar was a band of English expatriates living in Germany. Their earliest albums were hard rock that drew heavily from the space-rock and Pink Floyd styles of the same period, although by 73's Remember The Future, they had a powerful rock sound identifiably their own. After Sounds Like This, their albums were hit or miss: Magic Is A Child is one to avoid, yet Recycled, which preceeded it, is very intense, with synthesizers by Larry Fast. Ones I would reccomend are Recycled, Journey, and the LP version of Remember The Future (The CD is a keyboard heavy remix that buried the album's powerful guitar work - avoid it). More Live In New York is a good one as well. The Nektar compilation from 76 features the best material from Journey and Tab.

I have two very good albums by this four-piece. Personally, I prefer *A Tab in the Ocean* (1972), which is noteworthy not so much for complex rhythms or showy playing as just very well written music. They do an excellent job of making a 20 minute song all "hang together" very well, and every note is well thought out and carefully placed. I think in this respect they compare to Yes' considerable compositional skills (esp. Close to the Edge), but if what you're looking for is sheer virtuosity, look elsewhere. Remember the Future (1973), also comes recommended for the same compositional strength and cohesive group playing; it's just not quite as impressive as Tab. -- Greg Ward

One of the better known "German" bands, they even had a gold record in the US with Remember the Future. They started in England but moved to Germany for one reason or another. Their output has varied over the years. They started as a psych band, but other albums added some progressive elements. They were supposed to have a *wicked* light show. Remember the Future and Recycled are probably the best albums of interest to the progressive listener. Each is a conceptual album that is a nice blend of melodic guitar and keyboards with a vocal story. To my ears, they aren't readily comparable to anyone else. The music isn't overly complex, but generally satisfying. My personal favorite is Recycled. I also liked Down to Earth a great deal, but it has a flaw that always nagged at me. A circus concept, there was a "ring announcer" between each song that, for me, ruined the flow of otherwise decent music. Tab in the Ocean and Magic is a Child had shorter songs and were less satisfying. Start with Recycled or Remember the Future. Note that the CD mix of RtF buries the guitar and is not as good as the LP mix.

British band that lived and recorded in Germany, and included two (British) members on lights and visuals (Apparently Nektar live was quite an impressive spectacle, hence their surprising popularity). Journey To The Centre Of The Eye is a mindblowing epic with lots of echoplex guitar and dual mellotrons which is quite in tune with the Krautrock stuff going on around them, yet is definitely British. The reverb guitar cascades often remind me of Ash Ra Temple or early Tangerine Dream, whereas the lush mellotrons and often intense tones make me think more of King Crimson. An impressive debut. A Tab In The Ocean on the other hand, is mostly simplistic hard rock with the odd boring slow passage that tries to be "atmospheric". "Desolation Valley" may have been a very effective live number, it certainly deserves better than the lackluster treatment it's given here. The 17-minute title suite does have some nice moments though, sometimes reminding of Genesis. Remember The Future is infinitely better, still emphasizing Roye Albrighton's guitar, but given more of an intense progressive style to work with. The way dreamy, meditative passages with gently arpeggiated guitar build slowly into surging rockers make this one very exciting and highly recommended. Watch out for the CD issue, it was remixed, de-emphasizing the guitar (what's left??) and adding superfluous synth (there was NO synth on the original). I haven't heard it, but everyone I know said it sucks. Down To Earth flirts with a slightly more commercial, song-oriented style, but has some very good tracks, especially the excellent "That's Life". Derek Moore's bass playing here sends shivers up and down my spine. Since it seems keyboardist Alan Freeman is as unwilling as Tony Kaye to use synths, the guest appearance by synth wizard Larry Fast on Recycled is a godsend. This is them at their progressive best, jamming away hot with intensity, the interplay between Roye Albrighton's guitar and Freeman's organ and piano is a wonder to behold, Fast's textured, symphonic synths being the icing on the cake. Moore seems to have found greater confidence in his playing, the power-riffing style first essayed on "That's Life" is dripping at the edges of this, especially on the climactic "Marvellous Moses". An absolutely indispensable album for any prog collector. Magic Is A Child followed the departure of guitarist/lead singer Albrighton to join Snowball, his replacement being David Nelson of Man. It's supposed to be the most commercial album yet, but not really bad. I haven't bothered to get it. Nelson is also apparently on the two Live In New York albums. Albrighton rejoined for Man In The Moon, which I have NEVER seen, but is supposed to be the band's worst effort. -- Mike Ohman