MORE LIVE NEKTAR IN NEW YORK

Recorded in 1974, this is the remaining tracks from a gig in New York which did not appear on the "Live in New York" album . Bizarrely, we start with the final song of the performance "Fidgety queen", the band saying their "goodnights" as the track ends.

The set list here focuses on Nektar's then recent albums "Down to earth", which contributes four songs, and "Recycled" from which two appear. To round things off, we have abridged versions of "Remember the future (Parts 1&2)", and "King of twilight" from "A tab in the ocean".

It is fair to say that the performances are perfunctory, and add nothing to their studio counterparts. It appears little or nothing has been done to tidy up the recordings, which have the feel of a bootleg taken from the soundboard. The fact is that on their studio albums Nektar successfully exploited recording and production techniques. When those enhancements are missing, as they are here, what remains is the bare-bones of the songs devoid of the very things which made them so unique and enjoyable. Listening to these versions is like seeing your favourite actress with her hair in a mess, and no make up on.

The 22 minute rendition of "Remember the future" is in relative terms the highlight, but the piece has been badly butchered to give it a generally more upbeat feel.

In all though, one for the really devoted fan only.

The two "Live in New York" albums have since been amalgamated into a single package, which restores the integrity of the original set order.

Almost because three tracks ("That's Life", "Show Me The Way" and "King Of Twillight") are featured on both albums; which is a bit weird since they come out from the same concert.

I quite liked the rockier approach for most of the songs featured on "Live..." and the same feeling of course applies to this "More Live..."). Very average original songs like "Astral Man" or "Show Me The Way" are much more pleasant.

Their epic "Remember The Future" gets almost the same treatment that on "Sunday Night At The London Roundhouse". Second part is shortened and the number is played on its rocking side; which I prefer in comparison with the funky beat available on the studio version. I just feel a pity that the whole lenght of the song (OK it's almost thirty-six minutes) has not been recorded for this live rendition. The best option for this epic would be to have "Part 1" from the Roudhouse and "Part Two" from "More Live..." to have the most of it.

"More Live..." is a bit weaker than "Live..." IMO. In the meantime there is a double CD regrouping both original albums; but this newer version is more expensive than the two separate ones together...Anyway, their best live album is the one from the Roundhouse IMO.

Two stars for this one.

Nektar is GREAT! Always, unfortunelly they are in the second group from the Progressive Rock bands from the 70's, wich I really can't understand why!

This record show a band with their best, and setlist is great. But, sadly it seems a 'fake' live record. Like the ones you always heard about. I can't understand why record a Live record if you'll fake it, or redo it in studio, that's why I like the 76's Ao Vivo from Mutantes, the record had a poor sound, but, that's the concert as it was played back in the day.

All in all, this Nektar live album is a good one, but if you didn't know the band yet, listen fisrt A Tab In The Ocean and Remember The Future!