Nektar – A Tab in the Ocean (Esoteric Recordings)
Hi, Phil Aston here from Now Spinning Magazine, and this time we’re heading deep into classic, slightly lost-in-time progressive rock territory with A Tab in the Ocean by Nektar.
This newly released 4CD + Blu-ray box set comes courtesy of Esoteric Recordings, part of the wider Cherry Red Records family, and focuses on what many fans (and even the booklet itself) regard as Nektar’s masterpiece from 1972.
What’s Inside the Box?
2025 stereo remix – fresh, immersive, and genuinely stunning
1972 original stereo mix – beautifully restored
1976 US mix – noticeably different, and fascinating to revisit
Live in Germany (Aarberg), April 1973 – Parts One & Two – a full, powerful concert performance
Blu-ray disc featuring:
5.1 surround sound mix
Stereo remix
Original stereo mix
The Blu-ray alone makes this set essential for anyone with a surround setup, offering a deep, enveloping way into the album that really suits Nectar’s Hammond-led, melodic prog sound.
The Booklet & Presentation
The accompanying booklet is excellent. It includes period photography, full lyrics, detailed credits, and a superb essay by Mark Powell, placing the album in historical and musical context—particularly highlighting how Nectar found far greater success in Germany than in the UK.
The remastering is handled by Ben Wiseman, whose work here is exemplary, while Blu-ray authoring comes from Rich Osborne. As ever, Esoteric’s attention to detail is reassuringly high.
How Does It Sound?
The 2025 remix is a revelation—clear, powerful, and expansive without losing the soul of the original recording. The 1976 US mix offers a different perspective, and the 1973 live material is absolutely top-drawer, capturing Nektar as a formidable live band with these songs deeply embedded in their set.
Tracks like Tab in the Ocean, Desolation Valley, Waves, Crying in the Dark, and King of the Twilight still sound majestic today. If you love melodic prog with Hammond organ, strong songwriting, and emotional depth, this album remains irresistible.
One Small Criticism…
And this is purely about presentation, not music.
Previous Esoteric Nektar releases such as Remember the Future and Journey to the Centre of the Eye came in larger, deluxe book-style boxes with gatefold sleeves and a more imposing shelf presence. A Tab in the Ocean—despite being widely regarded as the Nektar album—arrives in a more standard clamshell format.
It’s absolutely fine, well made, and familiar to Cherry Red collectors, but there is a slight sense that this album deserved the full “flagship” treatment. That said, this is likely down to practical and financial realities rather than any lack of care.
If you’re new to Nektar and wondering where to start—start here. This is the album. And if you already love Nektar, this set gives you the definitive, most immersive way to experience A Tab in the Ocean.
It may not quite make my “Box Sets of the Year” list purely on aesthetic grounds, but in musical terms, it’s absolutely essential.
ORDER THE NEKTAR TAB IN THNE OCEAN BOX SET HERE
Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine
