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This time, I start from a personal point: music allows me, among other things, to improve the way I experience certain important moments that can make us feel intimidated; in this period, my source of anxiety is called the high school graduation exam. Among the bands I have to thank, Nektar stands out, an English group that originated in Hamburg. This fact is quite important, as the sounds of their albums also contain Kraut-Rock influences, indicating their inspiration from German musical culture.
"A Tab In The Ocean" is their second album, released in 1972 after "Journey To The Centre Of The Eye" from the previous year, which turned out to be an interesting album. Instead, this second studio work is probably the best achievement of Nektar's career; it is curious to note that numerous reissues have made modifications to the original tracklist. These concern the track "Desolation Valley/Waves" which in the original edition was a single piece over 8 minutes long; later, the two parts were separated. Musically, aside from the aforementioned Kraut influences, one can identify a path of musical exploration that results in original and varied sounds, particularly with Space-Rock carving out its niche: this is confirmed by the opening title track and especially in its instrumental parts. As the album progresses, the subsequent tracks, which are increasingly shorter, confirm this trend and also feature less participation from the group's vocal members, not particularly beautiful but well-suited for creating a good combination with the music. "Crying In The Dark" stands out in particular, an energetic track where the mellotron and the rhythm section perform splendidly.
Nektar straddles England and Germany, but this has not penalized them. In fact, they have admirably managed to draw from both musical environments, leaving us with albums that even today remain listenable and extremely valid, with "A Tab In The Ocean" fully fitting into this context.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 A Tab in the Ocean (16:52)
Climb aboard Imaginary waves
Of thoughts beneath the veils of bluey green
Armoured horses with sparkling sunset eyes
Give a passing glance
Funny creatures with funny plastic lives
Purple thrones are set in deep disguise
Neptunes world around us lies
Wake up!! Take a chance, climb aboard
Life is changing the oceans floor
The time is near, when nothings clear
Nothing left!!
Falling, I’m only falling
To the answer to every question
Is it real, or just deception?
Taste, touch and find
What it is, that’s in your mind
Truth can be yours
So let it come
Just like it did before
Sorrow, there’s no tomorrow
And the answer to every mans question
Is it real, or just deception
Taste, touch and find
What it is, that’s in your mind
Truth can be yours
So let it come
Just like it did before
Soon now
As night turns in to day
And minds step out to play
In the sun
Forever
This feeling will be yours
A feel you cannot ignore
It’s the one you’ve waited for
It’s the one you’ve seen before
03 Crying in the Dark (06:28)
I've been trying
trying so hard
I've been crying
crying in the dark
don't forsake me
the time of man is near
don't ever break me
and the world that brought me here
sick and lonely
waiting for you
sick and lonely
wondering what to do
can you hear me?
when I say to you
you give me your hand
I'll give mine to you
04 King of Twilight (04:22)
when the King of Twilight shows me
I will take ten steps to see
forty leaves I pay for freedom
for a chance to be free
for a chance to be free
when the King of Twilight calls you
take a step and you will see
we all need a quick solution
for a chance to be free
for a chance to be free
when the King of Twilight shows me
I will take ten steps to see
forty leaves I pay to freedom
for a chance to be free
for a chance to be...
free!
05 A Tab in the Ocean (16:03)
Climb aboard Imaginary waves
Of thoughts beneath the veils of bluey green
Armoured horses with sparkling sunset eyes
Give a passing glance
Funny creatures with funny plastic lives
Purple thrones are set in deep disguise
Neptunes world around us lies
Wake up!! Take a chance, climb aboard
Life is changing the oceans floor
The time is near, when nothings clear
Nothing left!!
Falling, I’m only falling
To the answer to every question
Is it real, or just deception?
Taste, touch and find
What it is, that’s in your mind
Truth can be yours
So let it come
Just like it did before
Sorrow, there’s no tomorrow
And the answer to every mans question
Is it real, or just deception
Taste, touch and find
What it is, that’s in your mind
Truth can be yours
So let it come
Just like it did before
Soon now
As night turns in to day
And minds step out to play
In the sun
Forever
This feeling will be yours
A feel you cannot ignore
It’s the one you’ve waited for
It’s the one you’ve seen before
07 Crying in the Dark (05:13)
I've been trying
trying so hard
I've been crying
crying in the dark
don't forsake me
the time of man is near
don't ever break me
and the world that brought me here
sick and lonely
waiting for you
sick and lonely
wondering what to do
can you hear me?
when I say to you
you give me your hand
I'll give mine to you
08 King of Twilight (04:05)
when the King of Twilight shows me
I will take ten steps to see
forty leaves I pay for freedom
for a chance to be free
for a chance to be free
when the King of Twilight calls you
take a step and you will see
we all need a quick solution
for a chance to be free
for a chance to be free
when the King of Twilight shows me
I will take ten steps to see
forty leaves I pay to freedom
for a chance to be free
for a chance to be...
free!
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Other reviews
By March Horses
Their best legacy is probably this 'A Tab In The Ocean,' a valid blend of 'sunny' progressive rock that touches more atmospheric shores.
The masterpiece of the album remains the splendid 'Desolation Valley,' powerful and decidedly inspired.
