Post by Kevin on Sept 30, 2002 13:09:06 GMT -5
Band: Nektar
Album: The Prodigal Son
Format: CD
Label: Dead Ringers
Time: 54 Minutes
Year: 2002
Track list:
Terminus/Oh My
New
I Can’t Help You
The Drinking Man’s Wine
Shangri-La
Salt and Vinegar and Rhythm and Blues
The Prodigal Son
Be Tonight
Day 9
Back in the 70s, The German space/stoner scene really had it going on. Loaded down with your favorite poison, you could sit back at your favorite Krautrock festival and let Amon Duul II, Ash Ra Tempel, or Guru Guru take you to the stars. Formed in 1969, Nektar achieved perhaps the highest profile of any in those days, probably because they were Anglos (read: they sang in English) based out of Hamburg. Their tunes featured lots of heavy guitar and keys, combining to form very long, conceptual compositions. Side-long songs were not infrequent. And their light show! Other bands only aspired to its magnificence! I was privileged enough to see it back in the day, and let me tell ya, it was a stoner’s paradise.
Unfortunately, as the 70s turned into the 80s, Nektar lost their underground sound in favor of something more simple and radio-friendly, and consequently broke up. Same old sad story; it happened to many a fine band. In 2000 several original members reunited to create ‘The Prodigal Son,’ of which this Dead Ringer version is a reissue. Sadly, it seems that Nektar has never found their way back from the fog in which they lost themselves. If you listen between the lines, you can tell that they’ve still got the chops somewhere in there. Unfortunately, the songs are glossy and commercial, with an unwelcome injection of funk and pig-squeal guitar.
However, it would be a disservice to you not to mention the albums that made them prog titans back in the 70s. Discs such as ‘A Tab in the Ocean’ and ‘Recycled’ are conceptual masterpieces that should be in your collection, if you’re into this type of music. Most of all, check out ‘Sounds Like This,’ a heavy chunk of proto-metal with plenty of screaming feedback and distortion. Those albums will stand as beacons of precision combined drugged-out craziness that will stand for many a long year.
Kevin McHugh
Album: The Prodigal Son
Format: CD
Label: Dead Ringers
Time: 54 Minutes
Year: 2002
Track list:
Terminus/Oh My
New
I Can’t Help You
The Drinking Man’s Wine
Shangri-La
Salt and Vinegar and Rhythm and Blues
The Prodigal Son
Be Tonight
Day 9
Back in the 70s, The German space/stoner scene really had it going on. Loaded down with your favorite poison, you could sit back at your favorite Krautrock festival and let Amon Duul II, Ash Ra Tempel, or Guru Guru take you to the stars. Formed in 1969, Nektar achieved perhaps the highest profile of any in those days, probably because they were Anglos (read: they sang in English) based out of Hamburg. Their tunes featured lots of heavy guitar and keys, combining to form very long, conceptual compositions. Side-long songs were not infrequent. And their light show! Other bands only aspired to its magnificence! I was privileged enough to see it back in the day, and let me tell ya, it was a stoner’s paradise.
Unfortunately, as the 70s turned into the 80s, Nektar lost their underground sound in favor of something more simple and radio-friendly, and consequently broke up. Same old sad story; it happened to many a fine band. In 2000 several original members reunited to create ‘The Prodigal Son,’ of which this Dead Ringer version is a reissue. Sadly, it seems that Nektar has never found their way back from the fog in which they lost themselves. If you listen between the lines, you can tell that they’ve still got the chops somewhere in there. Unfortunately, the songs are glossy and commercial, with an unwelcome injection of funk and pig-squeal guitar.
However, it would be a disservice to you not to mention the albums that made them prog titans back in the 70s. Discs such as ‘A Tab in the Ocean’ and ‘Recycled’ are conceptual masterpieces that should be in your collection, if you’re into this type of music. Most of all, check out ‘Sounds Like This,’ a heavy chunk of proto-metal with plenty of screaming feedback and distortion. Those albums will stand as beacons of precision combined drugged-out craziness that will stand for many a long year.
Kevin McHugh