Progressive Rock Review: Nektar-Mission To Mars

Release Date: August 30, 2024

Label: Deko Entertainment

Website

Nektar's latest edition of their storied history is Mission To Mars. With the loss of key members, the band has taken on a different sound. This is not your 70s Tab In The Ocean band anymore. I did have the opportunity to cover some of the remastered classic albums many years ago, so I remember how amazing they sounded and their comeback after many years on the shelf.

 

Listeners cannot expect to have one original member left and still have the same sound. Bands change, move on, and take chances, and sometimes, it is forced upon them if they want to continue, which was Nektar's scenario.

 

The only original musician left is Derek "Mo" Moore (bass), who now handles the vocal duties, but some longtime members are still contributing. This release is a mixture of rock and progressive. The music gets better quickly with many changes on three of the tracks, and keep in mind there are four tracks on this LP. Some good parts are progressive but not what longtime fans would expect to hear.

 

Side one begins with a rock and blues-tempered title track, "Mission To Mars," which you expect to be prog, but it's not at first. Once it started, I thought they sounded like today's Cactus (with the gruff-edged vocals), which threw me off until things moved along more. There are some substantial lead guitar parts and good harmonizing. A cool keyboard comes in at the midpoint; it becomes more of a jam with excellent instrumentation. Musically, some prog elements towards the end sounded more like the band I remembered. The vocals are not top-notch, but to be fair, they are adequate and have room for improvement. In any event, it turns into a strong track.

 

"Long Lost Sunday" starts with a mellow riff as the bass and drums jump right in, then it changes with more energy as the guitar chords start getting thicker, and then it goes back to mellow again. Some nice keys enter the mixture with layers and take a very progressive direction with more change to a more rhythmic riffing, and then the bass/drums follow as the vocals are steady and match all these shifts in direction musically. Then, it goes to a heavier sound and again transfers over, rotating the three significant changes you will hear in the composition. It is very complex and impressive. As you get closer to the end of the side, a strong bass chimes in with a sharp lead guitar as it changes one last time. Now it's time to flip the platter over to side two.

 

Side two starts with "One Day Hi One Day Lo," which has an excellent orchestral beginning like you may hear on a movie soundtrack or documentary. Then, a heavy bass starts as the drums follow. A superb guitar gets your attention as the vocals begin. You hear some good harmonizing, something they do well consistently. A slower pace is now in place, and a more defined guitar. Some pedal effects and stinging leads grab you. It changes to a more straight-ahead rocker, then another quick shift, sounding more like a pop-rock commercial band than prog rockers, which was interesting with a prominent bass to remind you who you are listening to. Harmonizing happens again, and then a funky bass makes things more interesting. A good keyboard section, then an uplifting guitar part featuring some speedy playing, is impressive. They show off their chops often on this recording, which I appreciated.

 

"I'll Let You In" closes things out softer, with the acoustic guitar beginning this slow mover. Then, a more upbeat electric guitar comes in, with some good rhythm and harmonizing. The music quality is high-level, with some sophisticated playing; however, this track should have started side two so they could have ended the album with more intensity and excitement with "One Day Hi One Day Lo."

 

A richer sound makes up for the weaker lead vocals when this band sings together. The musicianship, as I have mentioned several times, is beyond reproach. If Nektar gets a different lead singer with a more robust and precise set of pipes, their direction will improve. An entirely new audience will be waiting to embrace them, and then getting longtime fans back on board may also happen. The older fans, including myself (although it is good music), may consider Mission To Mars mediocre compared to their earlier catalog.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck-NAMR Reviews Founder

December 18, 2024

Tracks:

Side One:

1.Mission To Mars

2.Long Lost Sunday

Side Two:

1.One Day Hi One Day Lo

2.I’ll Let You In