NEKTAR - Magic Is A Child (1977-2013) RM / SHM-CD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Magic Is a Child was released in 1977, the debut for new Nektar guitarist Dave Nelson. Carrying on, though, from where their last set left off, Nektar's fascination with shorter, punchier songs continued unabated, even while the keyboards continued to swell and the guitars shifted ever more toward the symphonic. Nektar's brightening vistas were new, however, and a fatal flaw as far as their fans were concerned. They didn't want breezy pop, and breezy pop fans didn't want Nektar, while the band's new label, Polydor, apparently didn't care either way. The art department did spring for the 13-year-old Brooke Shields to appear on the front cover, but that was it in terms of promotion. Thematically, too, little about Magic Is a Child recalls Nektar's days as prog darlings. The opening "Away from Asgard" is a fine slab of Norse storytelling, tied into the vast dark forests of northern Germany (where the band was still based), while "Midnight Light" also has a romantic Germanic tinge, as it eulogizes the village of Seeheimut. "Love to Share," in contrast, is an unabashed Beatles tribute, riddled with affectionate borrowings and an oddly effective backward drum, while "On the Run (The Trucker)" still sounds like a slice of AOR radio filler. by Jo-Ann Greene  

Tracklist:

1 Away From Asgard

2 Magic Is A Child

3 Eerie Lackawanna

4 Midnight Light

5 Love To Share (Keep Your Worries Behind You)

6 Train From Nowhere

Guitar [Ethereal] – Walt Nektroid

7 Listen

Music By – R. Albrighton

8 On The Run (The Trucker)

9 Spread Your Wings

- Bonus Tracks -

10 Away From Asgard (Original Demo)

11 On The Run (Alternate Mix)

12 Train From Nowhere (Alternate Version)

Featuring – Robert Fripp

Credits:

Arranged By – Jeff Kawalek, Nektar

Arranged By [String Quartet] – Stephan Galfas

Bass [Basses, Bassthings] – Mo Moore

Drums, Percussion – Ron Howden

Guitar – Dave Nelson

Keyboards – Taff Freeman

Music By – T. Freeman, D. Nelson, D. Moore, R. Howden, S. Barth (tracks: 1 to 4, 10)

Percussion [Percussives, Smurds] – Ron Howden

Strings [String Quartet] – Julien Barber, Kermit Moore, Michael Commins, Anthony Posk

Synthesizer – Taff Freeman, Larry Fast

Vocals – Taff Freeman, Dave Nelson, Mo Moore, Ron Howden