Music Review: Camel - Esoteric Re-Issue Series

There was a time in the seventies when if you went to a fellow music lover’s house the chances were that they would predictably reach for one of the classic albums of the time. There was Dark Side Of The Moon, of course, or Tubular Bells, or several others.

However, you knew you were in the house of an altogether discerning music lover if they reached for Mirage by one of the better known bands of the progressive Canterbury scene, Camel. Sadly though, many who loved that album never ventured any further. This would leave them unaware of Camel’s rich catalogue and heritage. There are a number of other classics and, Nude, Rain Dances, and Moonmadness all spring to mind.

Now you can re-visit this excellent back catalogue, as many of them have been re-released, all with a wealth of information in the liner notes, re-mastered sound, new photographs, and additional bonus goodies.

I have picked two of these re-issues chosen from different stages of the Camel story.

Breathless
1978’s offering Breathless is permeated by a light airy breeziness that is best described in the album's liner notes as “whimsical and joyous”. This was achieved against a backdrop of internal strife which would see founder member, the late, Peter Bardens leaving shortly after they had finished recording at Oxford’s Manor Studios.

Breathless starts with a contender for any compilation album of Camel’s finer moments, “Echoes”. All the, by now, familiar elements that made this band so instantly recognizable are present. It is an uplifting classic and would sound comfortably familiar to any of the aforementioned people who didn’t explore beyond Mirage.

Camel’s line-up at the time consisted of founding members Andrew Latimer, drummer Andy Ward, Richard Sinclair (previously with Hatfield And The North, and Caravan), and Peter Bardens. Also present was saxophone legend Mel Collins who has played with anyone who is anyone throughout his career and was also a full time member of Camel from 1977 to 1979.

Further highlights include “The Sleeper”, “Starlight Ride”, “Summer Lightning”, sung by Sinclair, and the gorgeous “Rainbow’s End”, the single version of which is included as the bonus track.

Stationary Traveller
By 1984 Camel had been through many changes in their thirteen year history. Their album of that year Stationary Traveller was a concept studio album centred on the still divided city of Berlin.

Article Author: Jeff Perkins

Jeff is a writer who lives in France. He writes CD/DVD box sets, music reviews and has had a book published about David Byron of Uriah Heep. He is 'busy' exploring the music of Europe with his wife Debbie and dog Dylan. It's Dylan that does the writing of course. …

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