Journey To The Centre Of The Eye  by Nektar

Journey To The Centre Of The Eye by Nektar is not just a record, but a psychedelic manifesto that marked the birth of space-rock. As the band's first concept album, it tells the story of an astronaut who, during a journey to the Planet Saturn, comes into contact with aliens and acquires the knowledge of the universe. The album was released in November 1971.

Its sound is a dense mix of dirty guitars, hypnotic riffs, and the dominant Mellotron, creating an eerie, almost religious atmosphere. Its style balances between the early progressive complexity of Genesis and the raw experimentation of Pink Floyd in their Ummagumma era. Its structure is seamless, with the tracks flowing into one another, subjecting the listener to a state of ecstasy.

The significance of the album lies in the fact that Nektar (British living in Germany) managed to merge British prog with German Krautrock, influencing dozens of bands of the genre. The production was signed by Nektar themselves along with Dieter Dierks and Peter Hauke, giving the album its characteristic, "deep" and adventurous sound that remains fresh to this day.