Nektar - Recycled

Year of Release: 1975
Label: Bellaphon
Catalog Number: 289-09-003
Format: LP
Total Time: 36:40:00

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.

Reissued on CD in 2004 by Eclectic Discs/Dream Nebula Recordings (DNECD 1202)

Tracklisting:
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

Discography:
Journey To The Centre Of The Eye (1971/2004)
A Tab In The Ocean (1972/2004)
Sounds Like This (1973)
Remember The Future (1973/2004)
Sunday Night At London Roundhouse (1974)
Down To Earth (1974/2005)
Recycled (1975)
Magic Is A Child (1977/2005)
Live In New York (1977, rec. 1974)
More Live Nektar in New York (1978)
Thru The Ears (1978)
Man in the Moon (1980/2002*)
Prodigal Son (2001)
Sunday Night At London Roundhouse (expanded) (2002/2005)
Unidentified Flying Abstract - Live At Chipping Norton 1974 (2002)
Greatest Hits Live (2002)
Evolution (2004/2008)
Live In New York 1974 (2004)
Nektar 2004 Tour Live (2005)
Door To The Future (2005)
Sounds Like This (released but later withdrawn) (2006)
Book Of Days (2008)
Fortyfied (2009)
A Tab In The Ocean (Deluxe Edition) (2011)
Remember The Future (Deluxe Edition) (2011)
The Complete Live In New York 1974 (2011)
Retrospektive 1969-1980 (2012)
A Spoonful Of Time (2012)
Time Machine (2013)
Live At The Patriots Theater (2014)
Live In Bremen (2017)
Meglomania (2018)

Nektar Live (DVD) (2002)
Pure (DVD) (2005)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: March 9th 2002
Reviewer: Eric Porter

Artist website: www.nektarsmusic.com
Hits: 3489
Language: english