The onslaught of Nektar reissues is incessant, but I, dear reader, will be your faithful companion as we navigate the barrage. Two years ago, I was less than impressed with the group’s live offering Journey to the Other Side, celebrating 50 years of Remember the Future. As a result, I was cautious to take on Fortyfied, recorded in 2008 and originally released briefly on Roye Albrighton’s own label in 2009. It has been out of print since then, so this might be many fans’ first chance to hear this music.
I put the album on for my leisurely commute home from work, but soon found myself fired up by the energy of the group as they ripped straight into A Tab in the Ocean. The late Roye Albrighton (who passed in 2016) is resurrected in this release alongside Ron Howden (who passed in 2023), and the authentic energy he brings to the music is palpable and infectious. The band continue with Cryin’ in the Dark/King of Twilight and eventually play Desolation Valley/Waves, completing the entire Tab album before the intermission! Having been recently exposed to these classics through the new box set, I was excited to hear them played this century, and they still sounded fresh all these years later. I’m not quite sure why Albrighton felt it necessary to name each track after they played it, however.
But the fun isn’t over, as the group take us on a tour of Remember the Future, Pt. 2, which became my favourite side of the album after reviewing the 50th anniversary edition. I was walking my dog for this part of the album, and I hope that nobody caught me singing along to Let It Grow.
Since the band have blown so quickly through stuff I know (rather like eating all your meat first), I now have to parse through the veggies of songs I’m unfamiliar with, such as Doctor Kool and A Day in the Life of a Preacher. On Journey to the Other Side, the veggies were akin to soggy, boiled sprouts; reheated leftovers from 2020’s The Other Side. In 2008, however, we’re served a side of roasted parsnips, asparagus and cherry tomatoes topped with sea salt (can you tell I’m hungry?) as the band draw from Book of Days, released the same year. Though not quite packing the same wallop as their classic material, the three rather lengthy tracks – Doctor Kool, King of the Deep, and Where Are You Now – all sit comfortably in the setlist, and the energy never lets up.
For pudding, we’re treated to Side One of Recycled. Since Ryche Chandla and co. played the second side in 2023, I was glad to hear the other side played live. The sci-fi suite sounds a little bit different to the album version, mainly due to the timbre of the instruments and perhaps some arrangement changes, but still delights.
As an encore, the band pull out some deep cuts and coincidentally bring me back to my first brush with them as a reviewer with songs from Man in the Moon (1980) and Evolution (2004), which were packaged together in 2012 in a reissuing decision I still don’t understand. Fortunately, the deep cuts are good: The Debate is fast-paced fun, while Man in the Moon is slow and brooding, eventually building to a big finale.
I’m shocked to say it, but this is the best Nektar live album I’ve heard (although admittedly, there are far more that I haven’t). The combination of Albrighton’s presence, strong setlist and great audio quality makes this a winning set. I’ve read that fans say Pure, a DVD release cataloguing their Germany 2005 set, is even better, which I’m inclined to believe, as there is a lot of overlap on the setlist, but the band play both halves of Remember the Future there. But from this release alone, it’s evident that Nektar were still on top of their game in the 00’s.
TRACK LISTING
DISC 1
01. A Tab in the Ocean (14:39)
02. Cryin’ in the Dark (5:46)
03. King of Twilight (4:18)
04. Dream Nebula (4:33)
05. Desolation Valley (5:18)
06. Waves (3:11)
07. Remember the Future, Pt. 2 (18:48)
08. Doctor Kool (10:11)
09. King of the Deep (9:08)
Time – 75:48
DISC 2
01. Where Are You Now (9:41)
02. A Day in the Life of a Preacher (5:26)
03. Mr. H (9:17)
04. Recycled Pt. 1 (17:29)
05. The Debate (8:20)
06. Man in the Moon (8:45)
Time – 58:56
Total Time – 134:44
MUSICIANS
Roye Albrighton – Lead Vocals, Guitars
Ron Howden – Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Klaus Henatsch – Keyboards, Vocals
Peter Pichl – Bass, Vocals
ADDITIONAL INFO
Record Label: Cherry Red Records | Explore Rights Management
Catalogue#: EXM034
Country of Origin: UK
Date of Release: 5th December 2025
LINKS
Nektar – Website | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | Info at Cherry Red Records
