DOWN TO EARTH

NEKTAR was not quite willing to abandon the successful formula of "Remember the Future", but they also wanted to guide their own evolution, so "Down to Earth" is a transitional album between the expansive space prog of their earlier works and the more straightforward rock that would follow.

The tracks are united by a circus theme, and they are well sequenced, so even though the styles may appear disparate, the whole work flows nearly as well as "Remember", with more breadth in the playing and instrumentation than customary. Some of the individual parts are strong - the first 3 songs are the best, but the rest are hit and miss within and between.

NEKTAR merits respect for their willingness to take risks, but they could be a tier one group if they lavished enough love on their offspring. It's all well and good to let their tunes grow and flourish on their own, but a little more guidance might help them achieve a degree of brilliance more readily found in many of their peers. 2.5 stars rounded down to earth.