Nektar: Let It Grow

Until I bought my first album by Nektar, I was under the estimation that they were a German band as they were generally lumped into the German imports at my favorite record stores and stood alongside bands that gained a reputation as experimental. The term used today for this music is Krautrock – which I hope is not pejorative; however, if it is – I’m about 40% German – so hopefully this makes up for it.

While lumped together (on this side of the Atlantic) with bands like Kraftwerk, Amon Düül, Amon Düül II, Tangerine Dream, Faust, and others, Nektar was different. They were more melodic and had better vocals than most of the others (where vocals were present).

Although based in Hamburg, Germany, the band was solely English in their personnel. “Remember the Future,” their fourth LP and the second to be released in the US, was their first album to gain national attention. It was their highest charting album in the US making it to #19 on the album charts. This is pretty amazing as the band was largely unknown in North America and had no discernable hit single to support this recording.

As many were doing by 1973, “Remember the Future” was a concept album. The story is of a visually impaired boy who communicates with a space alien. “Let it Grow” was released as a promotional only single – it is the last cut on the album and one of the best cuts on Nektar’s top release. The guitars on this particular cut remind me of David Gilmour's work with Pink Floyd.