review by thomas

Nektar certainly started out as a sort of space rock band often doing concept albums in one form or another. “Remember the Future” sees them still doing that (just one long piece) but the music within has changed since the previous albums. They take on a more funk-based platform here with slices of boogie and space along the way. I might add that the funky bits are in fact the most interesting on this record and should they have left out the AOR moments and replaced it with more of that innovative progressive funk they just might have done a excellent album.

The piece presented sounds very slick and smooth, with the vocals, sounding very smooth also and a little middle of the road-ish, taking a major part in the overall soundscape of quite pleasant music, but hardly never rising above the feelings of music that sounds perfectly alright though lacking spirit or essence. It’s the same story with the instruments used – always perfectly played but done in a sterile way, never standing out.

So what you get is 36 minutes of decent music with good performances from all band members and a story worthy of any space rock band out there. The real problem with this album is that when you take out the really smashing bits you’re left with 25 minutes of progressive AOR – if such a thing exists – and you get pictures in your brain of Boston, Styx and Journey in their worst settings.