...SOUNDS LIKE SWISS

Nektar have always been one of those progressive bands who found more fame outside their own country than inside it, and when I was growing up I had never even heard of them even though I thought I knew what was going on and certainly don't remember them being written about in the music papers. Although they were a musical quartet of Roye Allbrighton on guitar and vocals, Derek "Mo" Moore on bass and vocals, Allan "Taff" Freeman on organ and vocals, and Ron Howden on drums and percussion, they always described themselves as a quintet as Mick Brockett provided the visual tapestry that was such a key component of the "Music and Light Theatre", and that was part of the complete package. Musically they took pieces of Uriah Heep, Yes and other symphonic bands to create something which was embraced far more by German audiences than those in the UK.

This 2xCD and 1xDVD set are taken from long lost audio and video recordings from 1973, recorded in Switzerland, hence the name. It includes an hour-long concert videotaped for Swiss TV's Kaléidospop, while the two CDs include the audio portion of the TV show as well as a complete show soundboard audio recording from the Pavilion des Sports in Lausanne. Given this is a professionally recorded show the sound is not as good as it could be but does a great job of capturing a full-blown prog band at the height of their powers. These shows were recorded in the same year they released their third and fourth albums, right in the middle of their heyday, and one can certainly understand why they were so popular to those who knew them.

This is wonderful symphonic prog from a time when bands were either on the road or in the studio, so always working hard and this line-up had been together since the beginning so knew implicitly what to do and are as tight as one would expect. With great vocals, solid musicianship, and great songs such as "Journey to the Centre of the Eye" who could wish for more> This is more than 2 ½ hours long, and even those who are new to Nektar will get a great deal from it. Derek "Mo" Moore says, "I have known of its existence since we did this concert in 1973 and have never been able to find it. To have this unearthed after all these years is fantastic and takes me immediately back to that time". Superb.

I read one too many complaints about the sound quality of these two concerts.....so i had to buy it And i can understand hi-fi snobs to a certain degree, but if you listen to any Nektar 1970-1973, Live or studio. This is the typical soundboard recording from this period, so for me, im glad they didnt remix this to sound modern. Incredible 2 live CDs, and the DVD footage of one of them, VERY Good!

This 2 cd / dvd includes two FULL Concerts :

Palladium, Geneva, Switzerland February 14, 1973, which is featured as a DVD, and all but the encore is on CD 2 Soundwise this will get a 4/5. The Video is also intresting, but in black and white, Its on you tube

And Disc 1 and the first two songs on Disc 2 is from Lausanne, Switzerland. This is a little rougher in sound quality, but not in a bad way, not at all, id say considering we are in early 1973, soundwise id say a strong 3.4/5

Package is also nicely thought through, and thats not every day when it comes to old archive albums, so you know this release have been lovingly restored both CDs and Video. Booklet again, a little short on memories, or info, Nektar should hire someone to write good liner notes for them, or maybe even better a BOOK !?!?

Overall, i cannot give this anything less than top score, the musicians are on fire, the sounds is good, the video quality is amazingly good for 1973 !! And as i said, the packaging is good, there are tons of picures, but for me it lacks a little in terms of Nektar Live 1973, even if the (surviving) members tries their best to remember something that was 50 years ago, and if you think about it Nektar played ALOT until Roye was totally burnt out in 1976......But hey, They did survive for two more albums, into the 80s, not many progrock bands did, and their did their reunion as original line-up, HELL, there are only 2 surviving members (And their original lightman!!) still playing Nektar music, and yes, Its still great, even if nothing can beat Nektar LIVE 1971-1976......... Enough said, did i convince you to go buy it !?! If not listen to it on you tube, i know the DVD portion is on YT, Enjoy and realize u need this on psyical format ! cause you know u do !! or will soon find out u need it !!!

Reccomended to anyone who love Nektar 1971-1973 !