MISSION TO MARS

Seriously? A mission to Mars while having good time and the music is loud? Don't look at me, that's the lyrical (and musical) tone opening the album, mounted on a late Sixties, maybe early Seventies, good old rock'n'roll workout that probably wouldn't have been out of place in some Guess Who, or Bachman Turner Overdrive recording of the era. These guys must have been smoking something they found in the oldest pocket of their oldest shirt, but, no problem, I like it anyway, and have to say that things get better soon enough, steering gracefully towards progressive territory, with fine contributions of the keyboards first, tasteful vocal arrangements (including a very suiting Queen's Roger Taylor-like colour) later, all solidly guarded by an axe placed in good hands, and given a splendid bath of retro-prog production that really brings out the best of this new Nektar effort.

Now, don't expect the outmost progressive dexterity, or complexity, you won't find that here, but rather a solid piece of rock music with a fair amount of prog value, added by people who really know the way to do it.

Don't expect the album to run very long, either. Instead, we are left adrift somewhere inbetween nothingness and eternity, soon after a bit more than half an hour of brief, yet very pleasurable listening.

Do you think (like I do) that you may suffer the adrenaline loss, and need some more? Then you can wait for the next two instalments of the projected Mars trilogy, that are apparently already on the cooking.