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Reviews: Nektar: Journey to the Centre of the Eye

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Reviews: 4

Review by RNelson September 5, 2006 (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:    
This is one of the best sounding SACD albums that I have ever heard. First let me say that I am not an audiophile, but I am learning. I have had a surround system for about a year and a half now, I own about 30 surround discs in either SACD or DVD-A.
Journey To The Centre Of The Eye is one of the best surround mixes that I have ever heard. I am very familiar with this album, I had it on vinyl back in the mid 70's and picked up the original cd version of it about 10 years ago. The SACD version is incredible, it was like hearing the album for the first time all over again. This is a space rock classic that was just screaming to be remixed into surround and it does not dissapoint.
By far the best Nektar SACD , if you are familiar with Nektar and have a nice surround system you are going to want to pick this up.

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Review by DPSydBerry April 27, 2011 (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:  
I am very familiar with this recording, albeit on a crackly old vinyl copy that I picked up back in the late 70s. It has long been one of my favourite albums and was a 'must have' purchase as soon as I obtained my SACD compatible player.

I have not played the LP for ages (turntable has retired hurt), but the remastered CD recording sounds very good; clearer than I recall my LP sounding (not unsurprisingly I suppose) if a tad congested seeming in a few places when all of the band are playing at full blast.

For me the SACD version is completely astounding. This type of music was made to be in surround sound and the multi-channel mix benefits greatly from being sourced from the original multi-track tapes; all sorts of background effects and sounds I had not noticed before appear in the mix.

Good use is made of the surrounds; there is a classic psychedelic 'spinning around your head' mix to the opening 'Prelude' and the listener is constantly immersed in sound although the 'core' band and lead vocals inhabit the front of the sound-stage.

As seems to be the case on all of the SACDs I have heard the 'tautness' and er...'oomph' of the drum and bass sound seems improved on SACD over the CD recording and there is a sense of more 'room' around the instruments (if that makes sense:-)

If you like psychedelia-tinged progressive rock of the Pink Floyd circa 'Ummagumma' and 'More' ilk I recommend this SACD whole-heartedly. Coming late to SACD meant that I had to pay over the odds for this disc (£45!), but to my ears it was worth every penny!

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Review by analogue November 29, 2011 (2 of 3 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:  
P.T. Barnum said that theres a sucker born every minute. I am one of those suckers for purchasing this sacd.

The music is awesome and I can see how it may have influenced Pink Floyd and Camel. The music is great prog/rock from 1971.

But the sound is what I am complaining about. Its obvious that the stereo version of this sacd is nothing more than a regular 16/44 cd transfer. This is not real hirez. Its compressed and digital sounding. Harsh and sibilant.

I paid a small fortune for this disc and regret it.

As I mentioned the music is awesome but the disc is a cheat.

Not recommended.
Stay away from this disc and buy the regular remastered cd.

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Review by progboy January 28, 2012 (1 of 1 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:  
Obviously with the handle of PROGBOY I am familiar with Nektar's albums ! If you are a fan of Pink Floyd and Camel then the music of Nektar will fit the bill. Albums like "Tab In The Ocean" and "Remember The Future" are some of my personal favorite prog albums of all time. But it all started here with "Journey To The Centre Of The Eye" in 1972 ...a year before Floyd released "Dark Side" and an album that clearly is a mix of psych , space and prog rock.

Ok but how does this SACD mix sound ? Well it sure sounds good on my stereo and is a nice upgrade from my Bellphon label Redbook CD release. You absolutely need to hear the songs "Astronaut's Nightmare" and "Countenance" in glorious SACD to really appreciate this disc. These 2 songs are back to back on this album opening side one and represent IMHO about the best 10 mins in prog rock history !

The disc offers nice clear separation and some great depth in the music that I was not able to get from earlier pressings.

The album is essential and if you can snag on SACD I would recommend it.....

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