Nektar go all the way back to the late 1960s and during the 1970s released a most fine run of progressive rock albums with heavy spacey/psychedelic style with conceptual themes.
Albums such as A Tab in the Ocean and Remember the Future remain stone cold genre classics.
After disbanding around 1980 they’d reform at the turn of the century and have remained generally active since despite the sad passing of various original members.
After a gap of around a decade, they released Mission to Mars earlier this year (2024) and it is a very fine album indeed. Much more of a punchy rock style with progressive influences.
With four tracks and around a thirty five minute running time there’s no time wasting fillers here. Instead the four tracks are expertly written and executed together with a crisp and clear production.
The title track kicks things off in style. A tight, chugging rocker with a steady riff, a constant slightly funky bass line locking in with the drums making an irresistible groove.
As the song progresses it expands out bringing in excellent washes of keyboards, Hammond organ and synths, some superb measured guitar to merge with them and even a good old fashioned bit of wah wah pedal. Sublime stuff.
Here’s the video:
Long Lost Sunday has more of the chunky guitar, expansive keys and another nicely measured yet effective guitar solo full of feeling as is the vocal bringing in a catchy melodic part to it all.
One Day HI One Day Lo takes things in to lush symphonic rock territory. The orchestral opening passage then the lush vocal adds plenty to the developing interplay between the instrumentation as individually and collectively each gets to shine over the ten minute suite.
I’ll Let You In closes out the album with an emotionally tinged sweeping piano/acoustic ballad which draws the listener in featuring another measured and effective guitar solo.
Nektar have a winner with Mission to Mars. Modern, fresh, uplifting and skilfully executed rock with the ‘70s spacey and proggy roots to the band combining nicely with it.
I write this review with a couple of days left in 2024 with Mission to Mars thus being able to sneak in to my top 10 albums of the year.
>> NEKTAR MISSION TO MARS ON AMAZON <<
I believe Mission to Mars is the first instalment of a trilogy, thus more Nektar to look forward to…..
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