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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Expands themes introduced on the debut, November 19, 2006
This 1974 followup to their eponymous debut is pretty darn good and shows the band developing themes introduced on the debut. Simply, they took the shorter pieces on the debut and expanded them by inserting a lengthy ostinato played on the bass guitar atop which (fantastic) guitar and Hammond organ solos were layered. These jam sessions are very exciting and both Andy Latimer and Pete simply rip. The harder edged "hard rock" sounds on the debut seem to have been pared back a tiny bit, although there is plenty of rocking energy on Mirage. The jazzier elements also become a little bit more pronounced on a few pieces.
This album features the "classic" Camel lineup of Andrew Latimer (electric and acoustic guitars, flute, and vocals); Pete Bardens (Hammond organ, electric piano, acoustic piano, mini-moog, mellotron, and vocals; Doug Ferguson (electric bass); and Andy Ward (drums and percussion). These guys are very good musicians and work well as an ensemble. Andy and Doug form an especially tight rhythm section and Andy Latimer is a fantastic guitar player. Although the vocals are not their strong suit, I do not mind them one bit and find that they work very well with the material.
The five tracks on Mirage include a few shorter instrumental pieces in the 3-6 minutes range and two longer tracks in the 9-13 minute range that feature their particular approach to prog, which fused some jazz and classical influences with rock. Of the longer pieces, I think Nimrodel works very well (love the mellotron playing), although I think that there is too much of an emphasis on riffs in Lady Fantasy, even though this is a pretty good track too. My favorite instrumental track is Earthrise, which I consider to be representative of the quintessential Camel sound.
This remastered package is very nice and features restored cover art along with loads of liner notes and band photos. The sound quality is excellent. Along with the original tracks are live versions of Supertwister, Mystic Queen and Arubaluba (both from the debut) which were taken from a concert held at the Marquee Club on 10/30/1974; and a previously unreleased version of Lady Fantasy (it's an original mix). The sound quality and performances of the live versions are excellent, while the original mix of Lady Fantasy does not seem too much different from the version included on the original album.
All in all this is a great, high energy album of prog rock from Camel and is recommended. The follow-up to Mirage would be their instrumental interpretation of the story The Snow Goose (1975), and would show them moving in an even softer direction. Many folks feel that the excellent Snow Goose is their finest album and I agree. Mirage and The Snow Goose are recommended along with Moonmadness (1976) which follows the format of Mirage, and the superb Rain Dances (1977), which features Richard Sinclair on bass and lead vocals.
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sophomore Humo(u)r, November 16, 2004
Quite a leap for a Camel. The Santana influence has practically disappeared, replaced by a distinctively Canterburarian quality throughout (think early Caravan) but most particularly on the lengthy, multi-part 'Lady Fantasy' bit. Great guitar solos, Andy. The Supersister tribute is extremely nice and mellow. Great flute work, Andy. But even in 1974 a Tolkien tribute ('Nimrodel' etc) was verging on the corny; it sounds nice, anyway- -Mellotrons everywhere you look. The live tracks are cool, and yes - - the bonus version of 'Lady Fantasy' is different enough to be interesting and educational. Camel's lyrics were never much to write about, and again they're pretty cliched here ("I'm in a freefall/like a snowflake falling/down, down, down, down, down/oh yeah"; "Though he seems afar/like a distant star/his warmth he can convey"; "Oh, my Lady Fantasy/I. . . love you"). I don't think they were trying to be funny, even in an English manner. By the way, I don't know about your copy, but in mine the manufacturer seems to have blown the booklet completely. Quite a lot of text is missing, and what's there is duplicated, pics and all. Just thought I'd mention it.
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21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding, June 22, 2005
I am not a music critic, nor would I want to be. What do they know anyway? But, I do have an opinion and for those interested in buying this disc: Camel is a criminally underrated band, considered average by most "critics". IMO they created Prog-Jazz- Rock. I am hard-pressed to find another guitarist with a more beautiful tone created by Andrew Latimer. All of these musicians are flawless on this disc. An absolute gorgeous listen, you will want more. Can't think of anything negative to say. If your reading this go ahead and click "BUY". By the way, I think "Mirage" is just a bit better than the more heralded "SnowGoose." There you have it, my critique. Peace.
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