Nektar – Down To Earth review

For many prog-rock fans, the German band Nektar hit their grand slam with the 1973 concept album Remember The Future – essentially one song spread across two album sides. The band’s 1974 follow-up, Down To Earth, takes a wacked-out circus as its theme; Nektar tighten the song structures and hit another one over the fence.

The classic Nektar sound is all over: chiming guitar chords (“Show Me The Way”), lilting harmonies (“Early Morning Clown”), perfect melodies (“Little Boy”), in-your-face bass (“Astral Man”) and a wonderful sense of playfulness (“Nelly The Elephant” and “Fidgety Queen”). My reissue from Electic/Dream Nebula includes six alternate versions of Down To Earth songs and outtakes.

In the CD liner notes, Nektar guitarist and lead vocalist Roye Albrighton writes, “Down To Earth is Nektar’s Magical Mystery Tour…”