Not too long ago I tried to learn the German language because I was planning a trip over there for Octoberfest. What I did learn was that I find it hard to pronounce most of the words, some words are the same in German as they are in English, and some words are almost sound the same with spelling being near the same. One such word is nectar, which is the English word for the sugar liquid plants make as well as the drink of the gods but with a slight change to the word, Nektar (notice a k instead of c), and you get the progressive rock band from Hamburg, Germany. How my attempt at learning German relates to their new album "A Spoonfull of Time" comes from how this is a cover band album where all the songs are popular songs from other bands being redone by Nektar.
Listening to this album is almost like how one word in different languages can be similar in spelling and pronunciation because these songs have the same lyrics and they pretty much same the same as the originals. Not that Nektar does a bad job with such songs as "Riders on the Storm" from the Doors, "Spirit of the Radio" by Rush, and "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd. All 14 songs on this new album are songs that are popular, well known, and well liked songs from some of the big bands with a supposed twist to them being put on by Nektar. What that twist is wasn't much because these songs were basically being played by the band in what sounds like an attempt to stay true to the song. Which is good in a way because if they ended up playing the song wrong then it wouldn't matter how good the vocals sound or even if they have the best drummer or guitarist, the song wouldn't have been liked.
So, what I heard was a band that wanted to play songs that they like from popular bands but just give them a small slight change in sound to say that they aren't exactly the same. To give this album a fair review I would split it in half where I liked the album and where I didn't care much for it. What makes me like the album is that I like all the songs and have for many years, so I was already drawn into enjoying the songs performed by Nektar. I also think that if this was the first time I had heard the song or these songs were ones that Nektar had originally created, then I would say wow these are some fun songs that have good vocals, great lyrics, and beats that just hook into your brain to make you like them. But these aren't their songs and that's why I didn't care too much for the album. It's the same as if you took the Mona Lisa painting, had someone else repaint her nearly exactly the same but instead of the small slight smirk of a smile she has they gave her a more pronounced, larger smile. This new one might look amazing but compared to the original it just can't be beat and that's how these songs were. Their well song, they keep true to how the songs originally sounded but with a slight new age/techno/electric beat thrown in, and the tempos are about the same but they still are not the originals.