Evolution

It's the best album out of the reunion era Nektar (2000-2016), by a lot. Being a post-2000 Nektar album, it suffers from the same big problem like the others; album and song length. I think only 2 tracks on the whole album deserve to be that long, the others just drag sections out way too long. The album's length could've been cut down quite a bit too, just take out the album's weakest tracks Child of Mine and Dancin' into the Void. What sounds easy and straightforward would've never been a possibility because they are important conceptually. Child of Mine is about Roye's son Che and Dancin' into the Void is more or less a title track, meaning that it represents the album's theme. Btw, I want to mention that Dancin' into the Void is the best example for how badly the songs are dragged out. The last 4 minutes or so could've been very easily cut out. It's similar with The Debate, where the guitar solo at the end of the song should've been shortened. Though I can forgive that song because it's a great track. It's very unique compared to the rest of the tracklist, in that it is much more upbeat than the rest. It's a real fun track. Especially that verse is amazing. Another great track is the opener, Camouflage to White. It's starts with a damn heavy section with some of the best riffs on the album, and then, for the rest of the song, transitions into a funky 7/8 groove. Really great song and a great opener too. But the best song has to be Phazed by the Storm. It starts a little unassuming but as the song progresses we get to a mystical section. That riff is seriously in the top 10 of Nektar riffs, it's amazing. The 'chorus' also is amazing. I would score the track higher if the opening section would be a little more interesting. The weakest track, in my opinion, is Child of Mine. It's no bad track but it's just so bland and takes very long to start in the first place. I can appreciate the peaceful vibe though. I like Always and Old Mother Earth as well, they just don't stick out or do anything worth noting tbh. The closer After The Fall is an interesting one. It revolves around a repeating 3-bar-pattern in the chorus what gives it a distinct feel. I really like the song, it's quite nice and a good closer. The whole album has a weird vibe and feeling, I can't quite explain it. It feels a litte hollow maybe, with not so much passion as the classic era Nektar albums. The mix feels a little dead too. I don't really know how to feel about it.
Evolution is a very good album.