Search - Nektar :: A Tab In The Ocean

Finally a superb CD edition of Nektar

Mitchell C. Loe | Salt Lake City, UT USA | 09/25/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"(4.5 stars)

Please read reviews on the earlier versions of Tab.

Now that Dream Nebula has reissued the Nektar classic albums, everyone can hear them as they were originally intended--and, it turns out, as mixed for the US release several years later.

Previous editions of Nektar CDs have suffered from poor mastering. This edition, produced by Mark Powell and remastered by Paschal Byrne, who must be a genius, is phenomenally clear and clean. The vocals stand out, the bass and percussion is no longer muddy, and the keyboards soar as they should.

This edition contains the original German mix, as originally released on vinyl, and the US mix by Larry Fast and Mo Moore (1976). There are good things to say about both versions, and a few drawbacks. However, considering how incredibly well this CD is engineered with both versions available to compare, there is no downside.

Definitely 5 stars on the technical side."

Amazing as can be!

Lord Ghaleon | Austin, TX | 04/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The reson I searched out this album was to hear the original songs that Iron Maiden covered (Crying in the Dark/King of Twilight). Let me tell ya, Tab in the Ocean (main track) has me hooked! Being a fan of some prog rock, this caught my attention instantly. An awesome disc!"

Sophisticated hard rock from 1972 and a proggier sounding 19

Jeffrey J.Park | Massachusetts, USA | 02/13/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Nektar was comprised of English musicians that took up residence in Germany before moving to New Jersey, United States in 1975 where they worked with electronic composer Larry Fast. This 2004 remastered edition by Eclectic Discs is good and features informative liner notes along with photos of the band (mostly publicity shots). The disc also features the original mix of the album along with a significantly different remix from 1976.



ORIGINAL ALBUM ***



The original album A Tab in the Ocean was released in 1972 and was engineered by Dieter Deirks at Deirks studio in Stommeln, W. Germany. The four tracks on the album range in length from the 4'22 heavy rocker King of Twilight to the nearly 17 minute epic prog hard rock title track. Apparently, the guys were excited by the developments in the English progressive rock scene at the time and A Tab in the Ocean represents their interpretation of progressive rock (with a hard rock twist). The music on the album is generally heavy (loud) although there are some spacey sections, with good Hammond organ work by Allan Freeman, along with decent playing by energetic bassist Derek Moore, guitarist Roye Albrighton (he used both clean and heavily distorted tones - sometimes at crushing volumes), and solid drummer Ron Howden. The lead vocal by Albrighton is quite good, and in combination with the other musicians, provides excellent three-part vocal harmonies. The group ensemble work is also pretty good, the best examples of which are provided on the epic A Tab in the Ocean and Desolation Valley/Waves.



The original album should appeal to fans of Wallenstein (the Blitzkreig album), early Deep Purple (1970-1971), Hawkwind, and Eloy (1973-1974).



1976 REMIXED ALBUM *****



The added bonus on the CD includes a remix of the entire 1972 album (by Larry Fast) that was issued in the United States in 1976. I have to admit that I like the 1976 remix somewhat better than the original mix because the hard rock aspect has been markedly reduced and the album is a bit proggier and much softer - the sound is more in keeping with the Nektar sound around 1975. Furthermore, the sound of the recording is not as harsh and bright, with more bottom end and greater separation of individual instruments. Larry Fast did add overdubs of acoustic guitar, new electric guitar and trebly Rickenbacker bass parts, along with altered vocal parts and tiny bits of synths and mellotron. In summation, the remixed album is completely different and fans of the harder-edged original album may not like the new remix at all.



The remix should appeal to fans of 1973-1975 Nektar and Eloy from 1975-1977."