*. Nektar .* (SHM-CD Japan Remaster 2013 + Bonus CD)

Album: Journey To The Centre Of The Eye (1971)(SHM-CD Remaster 2013 + Bonus CD)
Genre: Prog Rock (Psych/Space Rock/Hard Rock/Symphonic)  /  Germany

I think NEKTAR's first two albums are brilliant works of Psychedelic / Krautrock, but to be honest everything that they put out after those two recording does absolutely nothing for me. Like "A Tab In The Ocean" we have a concept album with drugs playing a major role in the lyrics. If you like mellotron this is their most 'tron filled album, in fact Andy from Planet Mellotron describes this record as "...proto-spacerock, with layers of delay effects and tripped out lyrics that the emerging genre demanded". All I know is that I had to have this after Tom Ozric and loserboy (both who have similar Krautrock / Psychedelic tastes) said it was a masterpiece. A lot of these tracks blend into one another allowing for a fairly seemless flow throughout. "Prelude" opens with experimental sounds that build before it settles into a spacey soundscape. "Astronauts Nightmare" opens with drums and guitar. Processed vocals after a minute as it settles. It kicks back in with organ then passionate vocals arrive after 2 1/2 minutes followed by some ripping guitar.Themes are repeated. Just jamming 5 1/2 minutes in. "Countenance" opens with floating organ and mellotron as drums and guitar join in. The tempo picks up 2 minutes in with guitar leading the way. Nice. "The Nine Lifeless Daughters Of The Sun" is led by guitar and organ, it gets pretty intense before 2 1/2 minutes. "Warp Oversight" is experimental and psychedelic as strange sounds come and go. "The Dream Nebula (Part 1)" is heavy to start with guitar and drums, vocals after a minute. I like this. "The Dream Nebula (Part 2)" is like "Part 1" but I like the way the guitar echoes here. "It's All In My Mind" sounds like the previous two tracks but check out the scorching guitar after 2 minutes. Amazing ! "Burn Out My Eyes" opens with synths as fragile vocals come in. They don't stay that way for long though.The music kicks in and out. I like the guitar/organ section around 4 minutes then they're on fire. "Void Of Vision" is uptempo with vocals. I love the vocals on "Pupil Of The Eye" and we get some smoking guitar after 1 1/2 minutes. The tempo and mood continues to shift. "Look Inside Yourself" is mellow with vocals and mellotron. "Death Of The Mind" continues with the vocals and mellotron but both get intense rather quickly. Drums pound away as they "rock out". Review by "Mellotron Storm" (Prog Archives).

RATING:  9 / 10

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