Customer Reviews

Camel

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the dark ages of vinyl, after much hunting, I had found a copy of the first Camel album. Although the quality of sound was woeful, I still dug the tight rhythms. My favorite pieces were, of course "Slow Youself Down" and "Never Let Go". Now I have finally found this rarely released album on compact disc and must say that I'm pretty gratified. The quality of remastering is nothing short of revelatory; Camel had much more substance to them then their brilliant follow up album Mirage had let on.
This is of course a progressive rock album, and it's progressive in every way. Both rhythm and melody circle each other like duelling snakes. Within these circles you can hear snatches of jazz and the occasional snippet of a blues riff. The best examples are the instrumental, "Six Ate" as well as "Curiousity". The album closes with the fine heavy meltdown of "Arubaluba".
Of the bonus tracks, my CD didn't include the single edit of Curiosity. Never Let Go, strangely enough, sounds somewhat murkier that the album version. All will be forgiven, however, when you listen to Homage To The God of Light, which has captured Camel in heavy jam mode. In all, the debut album by Camel is one of the great overlooked gems of progressive rock, that has been overshadowed by the more commercially successful albums of Mirage and Snowgoose that came after. This was a band that hit the ground running and kept going for 30 more years.

This 1973 album was the first by English prog band Camel and features their distinctive brand of progressive rock with subtle jazz-rock textures. Although this debut (like so many others) has a sound that was not yet fully developed and is harder rocking than their other albums, enough of the Camel sound is in place that it makes for great listening.

The musicians on this debut comprise the classic Camel lineup including great guitarist Andy Latimer (vocals on Slow Yourself Down and Separation); keyboardist Peter Bardens (Hammond organ, mellotron, VCS3, acoustic piano, and vocals on Never Let Go), great drummer Andy Ward; and bassist Doug Ferguson (vocals on Mystic Queen and Curiousity. All of the guys are fantastic musicians and the vocals are not bad at all, although they do not seem very confident about their vocal abilities. Andy Latimer is a great guitarist and easily quotes from range of styles. I also like Pete's use of the synthesizers and the mellotron - he was a very tasteful player and knew exactly where certain sounds worked best on this album. I guess it is worth noting that synthesizer use is pretty scarce on this album, although synthesizers would be used a lot on subsequent albums. Sadly Pete Bardens passed away in 2002, and this reissued album was dedicated to him.

The seven tracks on the album are all in the 4-7 minute range and are great examples of Camels jazzy, yet very English, brand of progressive rock. In fact, the instrumental track Six Ate is probably the best illustration on the album of Camel's ability to seamlessly mix jazzy and prog styles together. For those of that are wondering, there is a rock side to Camel on this debut, which really comes through with Andy's guitar work - especially on the thunderous and riff-heavy Separation and instrumental track Arubaluba. Other tracks that are great include the spacey Mystic Queen, and my personal favorite Never Let Go, which features haunting parts played on the acoustic guitar and a ton of glorious mellotron with string setting, before breaking into a vigorous rock workout. Believe it or not, Never Let Go features a sprightly mellotron solo. In that this instrument was notoriously difficult to play, it was never used as a solo instrument but more as a sustained backdrop. I guess it shows you just how good Pete was. The remaining tracks are also excellent and feature tight musicianship.

This remastered album features excellent sound quality, along with the restored cover art, a few band photos, and loads of liner notes. There are two bonus tracks including a single version of Never Let Go and a 19'01" live track entitled Homage to the God of Light. Homage to the God of Light was recorded on October 29, 1974 at the Marquee Club. The live track is pretty well recorded and is a great jam.

All in all, this is a great Camel album and is very highly recommended along with Mirage (1974); my personal favorite, The Snow Goose (1975); Moonmadness (1976); and Rain Dances (1977), which features Richard Sinclair on bass/lead vocals.

It'a amazing. Hardly no one knows about this wonderful rock album! It's a darn shame. This is beautiful and complex progressive rock dominated with jazzy, electric guitar. The early 70's had a ton of great music: not just prog-rock but it seemed like ALL the music back then was really good. I think Camel's first album stands up with all that excellent 70's music.

I don't know what it is about Camel's debut that makes it so great. I can tell you one thing, it took a few serious listens to get into this album. The instrumental parts (which is a HUGE portion of the album) REALLY jump all over the place, going from one beautiful guitar melody straight into another, without letting up. We're talking some *serious* jumping!

Because the instrumental parts are all over the place, it takes time to remember the music but I guarantee if you're a big prog-rock fan eventually the instrumental shifts will click and become exciting for you.

It's funny though, because as complex and melodic as the many guitar parts on this album are, the singer gives the listener very simple melodies that should take NO time at all getting into.

Let me mention a few of the songs. "Mystic Queen" and "Never Let Go" give me the strangest pictures. I don't know what it is about these two songs, but unusual feelings enter the dreamy part of my head every time I listen to them. It's weird because both of these songs are beautiful and soothing, and yet so DARK and haunting at the same time! Nothing should be giving off such strong, creepy feelings. Right now I can't think of another album that gives me the creeps more than this album. And I can't understand why! Something in the music scares the crap out of me and I'll probably never figure out what it is. That's the fun thing about Camel's debut.

I just have to say it- Camel has a PERFECT guitar sound. It's impossible to hate it. Pink Floyd's guitar sound is a favorite to many people, but there's something about Camel's soothing and brilliant guitar sound that really keeps your attention (once you get into the complex guitar melodies, that is).

If you like the instrumental parts of Genesis or King Crimson's music, PLEASE give this album a try. Camel may not be as diverse as Genesis or King Crimson, and certainly not as influential, but that's okay because Camel can be known for having the perfect guitar sound. If someone told me that they hate the sound of the guitar on this album, I wouldn't believe them!

Camel never had another album quite like this one. The electric guitar is really noticeable throughout the album, along with the keyboard and the heavy, constant drumming (which sound REALLY cool if you have a good stereo set-up). I think "Slow Yourself Down" could pass for a Santana song. "Arubaluba" is a strange standout because it's almost like surf-rock.

Look at me, I need to stop writing this review because I've said quite a lot already, and you're probably tired of reading my review! Just remember this-

Camel's debut- The electric guitar is relaxing, exciting and melodic all at the same time, the keyboards are haunting, the male singer has a soothing voice and he sings nice, peaceful and simple vocal melodies. If this sounds good to you then pick it up and enjoy!

This LP was not originally released in the US and was only avaible as an import. A CD version was released in the US. Now, there is this remastered version, with 2 extra songs. The original CD was about 39 minutes long. This new version is 63 minutes.

This is one of Camel's three best albums. They play progressive rock, but with the emphasis on rock. The music is a little rough in places, having a garage band quality. But, it gives the music a very nice edge. Every track is energetic and interesting. There is not a bad track on the album.

The bonus tracks are a 3 minute single edit of Never Let Go (which is worthless, in my opinion) and a 19 minute live number called Homage to the God of Light. This is a piece that Camel used to always play in concert in the early days. It is a rambling jam. It reminds of the early jams Deep Purple used to do (Wring That Neck or Mandrake Root).

From this point on, Camel's music would slowly get softer and softer until they started playing New Age Jazz in the eighties. In the nineties, some of the spark would return.

After Camel's fourth album, the band slowly broke apart, with one member leaving after each album, until only guitarist Andy Lattimer was left. He eventually moved the band to California.

Pete Bardens went on a solo career, playing mostly New Age type music. He did a guest appearance on Camel's live album, Pressure Points. He formed a band called Mirage, which featured members of Caravan and Camel's old drummer. They toured playing Camel and Caravan songs. He then reformed Mirage with 3 studio musicians and but out a lack luster live album. He died in 2003.

As I write this review, I'm not exactly a Camel expert knowing almost nothing about the middle of their career. Judging by reviews of albums of that era, though, it seems I'm not missing much.

Camel's self-titled debut is, however, one of my very favorite albums and quite possibly Camel's strongest album as well. There's virtually no filler on this one and their energy is at its peak.

And in fact, this is not prog in the same way early Genesis is prog, to cite a reference in the genre. Camel from this age is quite a bit more rythmic and rocking. This doesn't happen in later albums, particularly towards the end of their career, when everything getts much more mellow, yet beautiful.

"Slow Yourself Down" sets the pace for the entire record, an upbeat track sang by Andy Latimer in his quite original tone. But it's "Never Let Go" (which has an even better rendition on "A Live Record") - my favorite Camel track - and "Arubaluba" that steal the record for me. "Six Ate" has this great grooving bass line as the backbone of the entire track while "Mystic Queen" is the most mellow track yet doesn't disappoint, being beautifully sung by bassist Doug Ferguson and featuring Bardens intensely exquisite keyboards. And everywhere Andy Ward's drumming is perfect for the mood.

I find Camel to be an essential band in the genre, and as I find this to be their best effort, this record is also essential, even if you're probably better served with next year's "Mirage" for a more progressive output.

If you are a fan of progressive music then you MUST get this album. Looking for "new" bands to enhance my understandng of the British progressive movement of the 70s, I decided to check out Camel, and bought "Snow Goose" which is their most acclaimed album... I liked it, so I had to see what more Camel had to offer.

When I bought this album I wasn't quite sure what to make of it, but after a few listens it quickly began to grow on me, and soon I found myself playing it every day! Every song has something different to offer, and although "Camel" might not be as focused as later efforts like "Mirage" or "Moonmadness", I would definetly recommend this one over them.

I really can't understand why this album didn't get the acclaim it deserves, I find it combines elements of great prog rock bands such as King Crimson, Yes, and Pink Floyd, fusing them together into a completely new style. If you like long prog rock jams, complex arrangements and strong melodies then you can't go wrong with this one.

For serious listeners, I would recommend starting with this album and working your way through the Camel catalogue.

Camel debut is lovely. A bit different than their other albus (more prog), this one has a prog-rock feel but much more cool, with hints of funk and groove, this remembers me Brian Auger Oblivion Express or the german Embryo (look for their Disconform remastred series). There is here very good chill-out material. The musicians are equally superb.

I really can't see why this cd is getting so mediocre ratings - it's very good. Maybe cause there are no ''classics''? A silly reason to low-rate it.

Slow Yourself Down is an awesome track with great keyboard/guitar interplay by two overlooked players - the late Peter Bardens and Andy Latimer.

Mystic Queen is a superb ballad whose soft-spoken vocals contributes a lot. The acoustic intro is beautiful and so is the later crescendo until the pace slows down again.

Six Ate is not my favorite instrumental on the cd (That is Arubaluba) but nevertheless shows how accomplished musicians they were, even at this very early point in their career.

Separation is an average song on the album but not mediocre either.

Never Let Go is my second-favorite sang-track on the album. Lovely acoustic intro once again and superb playing by everyone.

Curiosity is another average song but enjoyable once again.

Arubaluba rocks all the way through. The musicianship here is stunning - the keyboards, guitar, bass and drums shine all the time. Perhaps due to being an instrumental, it has been severely underrated, when in fact it's an incredible song.

In a nutshell - an overlooked debut album, and although not their best, it deserves to be among the best Camel has ever done.

4/5.

Luis Mejia (son) - The debuting Camel album may work extremely good just in the case of music purists and people devoted to the band searching for their origins and the core of their music, but all in all, the album fails to achieve a concrete musical style. Its music is plain, covered to the top with an awkwardly insipid improvisational style (which many may affirm this is because of it's jazzy textures but this is argueably), and a very muted, underachieving prog style which neither blends to complexity neither to an accessible side of their music. Within its songs, the album is painfully filled with uninspired rock performances, but still some reach eventually into an original style, as for customized rock songs like "Slow Yourself Down", "Six Ate" and "Curiosity", the others work tighter, "Mystic Queen" has a delicate acoustic harmony, "Separation" might be the most recognizeable piece in the album, this is classic Camel, and "Arubaluba" has a cohersive improvisation, but this doesn't excuse the uneven songwriting. As for the classic "Never Let Go", this piece is severely dissapointing in all senses in this studio piece, but if you want to hear a real Never Let Go, listen to the live version in A Live Record, this was the awesome piece I fell in love with. The vocals were yet to develop, and the songwriting had to be fixed, but luckily, a vast majority of these problems are fixed in the following Mirage, in conclusion, the album will only work for reaching to the core of their improvisational style.

Camel was one of the most imaginative bands in the seventies. I bought the vynil album and I haven't been able to buy this CD yet.
But when you are in the mood for Camel you won't believe the wide sense of harmonies depicted musically, the clever use of the spanish guitar in several pieces. Think in Arubaluba, for instance, and my favorite track Mystic queen , one of the most striking themes in all that glorious decade. And watch for the amazing bands in that age.
Undoubtly, we'll always be in debt with U.K. about resisting the no mercy invassion of the disco music that literally struggled so many raising promise rock bands in USA, specially between 1975 and 1979.
Buy that album. This was a true cult band.