DOWN TO EARTH

So, another "concept" album from "Nektar". We are definitely brought down to earth with this album. Actually, Nektar already deviated from their psychedelic and spacey mood of their first two albums. And that's a shame IMO.

A good rock song to start, a weak "Nelly Elephant" featuring some "circus" annoucement of the animal (but that's the "concept" : a circus stuff...). I really don't like that one. We'll get some acoustic psychedelia with "Early Morning Clown". Simple, almost childish as Floyd could be in their early days (in the studio).

The album has little great songs to offer. Hundreds of bands can deliver such a piece of music. Not bad but not great either. I quite dislike the vocals on "That's Life". Mixing some German with English. It sounds indeed as the one of a master of ceremony presenting a show. The intro of "Fidgety Queen" is exactly on par : weird, grotesque and almost decadent. Brass is a bit too invading for my taste.

Is this psychedelic / space rock ? Hell, no. Nothing to do with it. You'd better stick to bands like "Eloy" for this.

Some of the songs are even soul / funky oriented like "Oh, Willy" but the funky mood of their previous release "Remember The Future" is also to be noticed on other songs. I do not like this AT ALL.

While "Little Boy" is a candid acoustic ballad (maybe one of the best piece available on this rather average album), "Nektar" offers a flat rock number with "Show Me The Way". Poor.

Nektar released two very good album in the early years of their career. I'm afraid that no great albums were produced afterwards.

Two stars.