Nektar - A Spoonful Of Time

(CD 2012, 71:22, Cleopatra Records)

The tracks:
  1- Sirius(2:54)
  2- Spirit Of The Radio(5:07)
  3- Fly Like An Eagle(4:04)
  4- Wish You Were Here(6:17)
  5- For The Love Of Money(7:41)
  6- Can't Find My Way Home(3:25)
  7- 2000 Light Years From Home(4:57)
  8- Riders On The Storm(6:46)
  9- Blinded By The Light(7:16)
10- Out Of The Blue(4:50)
11- Old Man(3:23)
12- Dream Weaver(4:12)
13- I'm Not In Love(5:52)
14- Africa(4:28)

Website        Cleopatra Records


The British band Nektar was founded way back in 1969 and to be honest: I've never been a fan of their music. I've got only one album of these old English prog rockers being Live In New York (1977). Now they recorded a new album called A Spoonful Of Time filled with fourteen covers or as the band members describe: 'a reinterpretation of a slew of rock radio classics joined by an incredible gathering of musical heroes.'

Among these heroes you'll find Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman, Rod Argent, Ian Paice, Billy Sherwood and many more. If you're familiar with my reviews than you probably know that I hate covers, and therefore I would call this album completely redundant, especially if you cover the classic rock tracks the way Nektar did. The songs are not only boring, but very similar to the originals while the original pieces are so much better! So, why bother covering these songs then?

As far as the vocals are concerned this album gives me the creeps as you can't 'imitate' Neil Young, Jim Morrison or Geddy Lee! In fact it's pure blasphemy trying to cover a Rush song anyway, and if you have the guts to do so, than please spell the name of the song correctly! It's not Spirit Of The Radio but The Spirit Of Radio! The only track which is not sung by Roye Albrighton, who is the original singer of Nektar of course, is the Toto cover Africa which is sung by Bobby Kimball (ex-Toto). However, the original track has been sung far better by David Paich! So, as I said before, A Spoonful Of Time is a totally redundant album and I even wonder if diehard Nektar fans will appreciate this record!

* Martien Koolen (edited by Peter Willemsen)

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