Nektar's surprising covers album was produced by Jürgen Engler & Chris Lietz of German metal-industrial band Die Krupps, and recorded in the Austin TX branch of the duo's Dusseldorf-based Atom H studios. (Nektar's website also mentions involvement of Billy Sherwood and John Wetton, but they're not credited in this album's sparse liner notes.) Some interesting/unexpected choices here, including songs by Alan Parsons, Rush, Steve Miller, Pink Floyd, The O'Jays, Blind Faith, Stones, Doors, Manfred Mann, Roxy Music, Neil Young, Gary Wright, 10cc, and Toto. Basically a who's who of the better 70s rock hitmakers, interpreted by one of Prog's veteran bands. A really interesting concept to have such mainstream commercial music played by musicians who've largely been cult heroes for decades, as are several of their dubbed-in "guests". Nektar was one of the few classic German-based rock bands to actually tour America back in the day, and apparently that's why these period radio hits hold a special attachment for leader Roye Albrighton. So I'd call this an earnest labour-of-love; anyone cynically imagining that much money's going to be made off this project is certainly dreaming. So does it work? As can be expected, yes and no. It'll take a few more plays to decide on some things. Musically there's little problem from these great musicians. My main complaint there being couple of times when the tempo is too hurried for certain songs, giving the feel of being played by a mediocre bar band. And as with most covers of familiar songs, there are certain additions that sound plain weird and certain subtractions that seem like gaping holes - but one soon adjusts to those and they aren't necessarily a bad thing. Albrighton's voice is passable for most of the material. The main problem is that he was once such an exceptionally good singer, which highlights the tolls of advancing age and shaky health so much more glaringly than with more average vocalists. He can hit high notes, only they're no longer rich and broad, and even the lower ones sound thin and diminished compared to 30 years ago. Still, he's far from the point where he needs to stop or anything. Vocally, the only song that had me cringing was "Out Of The Blue" - he really should've canned that one because stylistically it's so very wrong for him. Not surprisingly, his voice sounds best on the Neil Young cover, which is a highlight of the album and shows Albrighton's busking roots. And covering Rush! That's the one I'm most surprised with. The song's nearly as ferocious as the original, and vocally it actually works quite well. Other tracks that I greatly enjoyed were the O'Jays and Stones covers. "Riders On The Storm" is a good showcase for Rod Argent's tasty Hammond work. Brainticket's Joel Vandroogenbroeck's deeply-trippy flute adds a nice touch of moody Kosmische to several tracks, most interestingly on the 10cc one. The other songs are merely OK, though they might grow on me. I've never cared at all for "Dream Weaver" or "Africa" though, and these versions offer no improvement on them. Can I recommend this album to Nektar fans, or anyone? Only very cautiously - it's just so dicey. It occurs to me that this should've been an Albrighton solo album, as there is little that sounds very Nektar-like about it. But if you want to risk it then you might quite like the album like I do. And I do expect to warm to it. Review by "groonrikk" (Rate Your Music).
RATING: 8.25 / 10
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