Among
Nektar
fans, there are many who consider
Remember the Future
to be the band's creative peak. The album certainly creates the grounds for making that argument. Indeed, it is an ambitious work that is essentially one composition divided into two parts. The whole is performed in a very seamless and competent manner. Still, many critics just plain didn't get it. The juxtaposition of the two opinions makes this album to
much like what
Tales From Topographic Oceans
was to
Yes
. The truth is probably somewhere between the two points, as it usually is. It truly is a very entertaining, well-written, and well-performed disc that showcases a very underrated band at the top of their game. Although this album isn't one of their best, it definitely is not a slouch. It does have a few elements that detract from it a bit, though. First, there is a '70s
funk
sound prevalent on the album that tends to date it a bit. Second, it can get to feel a bit repetitive. The final detriment is that the production quality sometimes feels a bit AM radio-ish and flat. All of these things only go so far in removing the album from the "masterpiece zone," though. The bottom line is that this is a fine
progressive rock
release that should please not only fans of the band, but fans of groups like
and
Genesis
equally well. ~ Gary Hill