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Journey to the Centre of the Eye

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1971 studio album by Nektar
Journey to the Centre of the Eye
Studio album by Nektar
ReleasedNovember 1971
RecordedJune – August 1971
StudioDierks Studios in KΓΆln-Stommeln, West Germany
Genre
Length42:02
LabelBacillus
ProducerDieter Dierks, Peter Hauke, Nektar
Nektar chronology
Journey to the Centre of the Eye
(1971)
A Tab in the Ocean
(1972)

Journey to the Centre of the Eye is the debut album from English progressive rock band Nektar which came out in November 1971. Though formally divided into 13 tracks, the entire album consists of a single continuous piece of music, with some musical themes that are repeated throughout the work. Because of its narrative nature, it has been called a rock opera and/or dense concept album. The story follows an astronaut who, while on a voyage to Saturn, encounters aliens who take him to their galaxy, where he is suffused with knowledge and wisdom. It is usually interpreted as a commentary on the nuclear arms race.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic

Allmusic's retrospective review stated that "throughout Journey's 13 cuts, Nektar introduced their own sort of instrumental surrealism that radiated from both the vocals and from the intermingling of the haphazard drum and string work." They gave unqualified praise to both the compositions and the performances of each of the individual members.

Track listing

All songs written and arranged by Nektar.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Prelude"1:25
2."Astronaut's Nightmare"6:27
3."Countenance"3:33
4."The Nine Lifeless Daughters of the Sun"2:55
5."Warp Oversight"4:10
6."The Dream Nebula I"2:14
Side two
No.TitleLength
7."The Dream Nebula II"2:26
8."It's All in the Mind"3:22
9."Burn Out My Eyes"7:50
10."Void of Vision"2:02
11."Pupil of the Eye"2:47
12."Look Inside Yourself"0:54
13."Death of the Mind"1:57

2013 reissue

A double CD reissue of Journey to the Centre of the Eye was released in 2013 on Purple Pyramid Records. The first CD is the original album. The second CD two includes part of a live 1971 show from Germany, where the band played the entire title song. (During later tours, exemplified by the 1973 show that appears on the 2021 live album Sounds Like Swiss, Nektar played a heavily abbreviated rendition of the song which ends with the "Dream Nebula" movement.) Additional songs from this "Official Bootleg" show are included on the 2013 reissues of A Tab in the Ocean and ...Sounds Like This.

Bonus CD: Official Bootleg, recorded live November 13, 1971 at Bessunger Turnhalle, Darmstadt, Germany
No.TitleLength
1."Prelude"2:03
2."Astronaut's Nightmare"6:51
3."Countenance"3:36
4."The Nine Lifeless Daughters of the Sun"3:31
5."Warp Oversight"4:26
6."The Dream Nebula I"2:24
7."The Dream Nebula II"2:35
8."It's All in the Mind"3:39
9."Burn out My Eyes"7:24
10."Void of Vision"1:56
11."Pupil of the Eye"2:08
12."Look Inside Yourself"0:46
13."Death of the Mind"5:05

Personnel

  • Roye Albrighton - guitars, vocals
  • Mick Brockett - liquid lights
  • Allan "Taff" Freeman - Mellotron, pianos, organ, vocals
  • Ron Howden - drums, percussion
  • Derek "Mo" Moore - Mellotron, bass, vocals
  • Keith Walters - static slides
Additional personnel
Production
  • Produced by Nektar, Dieter Dierks & Peter Hauke
  • Engineered by Dieter Dierks

References

  1. ^ Journey to the Centre of the Eye at AllMusic
  2. "Aural Innovations 4". Aural-Innovations.com. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  3. Steinheuer, Manfred (2011). Journey to the Center of the Eye (liner notes). Nektar. Malesch Records / Long Hair.

External links

Nektar
  • Ron Howden
  • Derek "Mo" Moore
  • Randy Dembo
  • Ryche Chlanda
  • Kendall Scott
  • Mick Brockett
  • Roye Albrighton
  • Mick Brockett
  • Allan "Taff" Freeman
  • Keith Walters
  • Dave Nelson
  • Dave Prater
  • Carmine Rojas
  • Ray Hardwick
  • Larry Fast
  • Tom Hughes
  • Steve Adams
  • Desha Dunnahoe
  • Steve Mattern
  • Peter Pichl
  • Billy Sherwood
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilations
  • Nektar
  • Thru the Ears
  • Best of Nektar
  • Highlights - The Best of Nektar
  • The Dream Nebula: The Best of 1971-1975
  • Retrospektive 1969 - 1980
Videos
  • Live
  • Pure: Live in Germany 2005
Categories: