MIRAGE

Review # 99. Mirage was released on the 1st of March 1974, and it was Camel's second album. The album included only 5 songs, but 2 of them were over 9 minutes long. These two songs are also the best in this album by far. I'm talking about Lady Fantasy, and Nimrodel. The latter was inspired by The Lord of the Rings. (The full title is: Nimrodel/The Procession/The White Rider).

The album was released in Deram records, which was a part of Decca. (Very big English record company in those years). When it was released it didn't make any significant success, didn't climb up in charts, but it was the album that made Camel known in the Prog-Rock scene. With the passing years, it took its rightful place as a 'classic' and now it is considered as one of their best works.

In the cover, it shows the very famous packet of Camel cigarettes, and that, in my opinion, is one of the reasons that this album is remembered by many non Prog-Rock fans. (This cover was made after a business arrangement between the band and the cigarette company).

Here, Andrew Latimer (guitars, vocals) played the flute for the first time, in the song 'Supertwister'. In my opinion, if someone wants to search Camel's music a little, this record must be the starting point. 4 stars