NEVER LET GO

Before this one I suggest you to start with "Coming of Age" and "A Live Record"!! Well in my opinion you have to start with these latter, containing a selection of some "must have" from CAMEL and also the fantastic live version of "The Snow Goose", because both sound much and much better than the studio album and contain also other jewels from various albums.

Anyway here, if you skip "City Life" (the unique weak track from "Nude"), "Hymn to Her" from "I can see your house from here"and accept another version of their standard mini-suite "Lady Fantasy" from the album "Mirage", which has been the song by which Andy has concluded a lot of lives, the rest is excellent stuff... Nevertheless they have forgotten here the essential "Beached" and "Docks" from "Nude", "Lunar Sea" from "Moonmadness"; and moreover of course there isn't any stuff from "Harbour of Tears", this CD being not issued yet.

Recommended, after having already bought "Coming of Age" and "A Live Record"!!

I highly recommend this album for anyone who does not want to buy all of Camel's Albums and just wants to hear a general idea of most of Camel's strongest songs during their early- mid career (then I would recommend to buy Rajaz which is for me their best 90s album)

Never Let Go starts the album with a mediocre acoustic song that turns into an energetic section that leaves a good impression. EArthrise from Mirage Follows it and it really rocks! The next songs are the beginning songs of Snow goose which are very nice. Next are 1 track from every following album with Ice being the strongest of the 4. The first disc closes with two decent songs that sound like video game soundtrack.

The second version contains a live version of the album 'stationary traveler' in its entirety. It is a good mellow album (I'll give it 3 stars). So, it is great that you can buy a live album, and get a studio album included. The last song is a better version of the mediocre Lady Fantasy.

My Grade : B-

As I have mentioned in my review for "Dust & Dreams", I was very happy that Camel did a great come back after such a long and unproductive period. This double CD comes out the "Dust" supporting tour.

So far, I have not been really overwhelmed with Camel's live albums, so will this one be different ?

CD one features the old repertoire. "Never Let Go" comes from their first album and was rather premonitory. I guess that Andrew choose this title to name this record to symbolize his very long fights with lawyers and record companies. And one can only be respectuous for his persistence. "Earthrise" from "Mirage" is really exceptional. The guitar and drums are so great that this track sounds like a Santana one from their glorious days. A highlight.

We move a bit in time for the next two "Rhayader" ones from "Snow Goose". Very good as well. "Moonmadness" is represented by "Spirit Of The Water". It was not the most impressive number, but this melodious and emotional track is a real delight here.

We continue our nice journey into Camel's repertoire with "Uneven Song" from "Rain Dances" which was one of the not so many good track on there. "Echoes" was my preferred track on "Breathless" and sounds really great.

One has to recognize that so far this live album is excellent. By far the best Camel one.

The best is yet to come. Finally, "Ice".

I have been desperate to hear this one live. They missed so many opportunities to integrate it in earlier live efforts that to get it here as well is a great relief. And, yes : the fan is rewarded. This version sounds again better than the studio one. In terms of live version, they will do even better during their Rajaz tour. But I guess that these albums, although available for reviewing during a certain time were retrieved from this site. Their (semi) boot status must be the reason (but still the "Ice" version from "Camelitis, Live In Chile" is even more emotional).

Talking about emotion, I will do the (obvious) link here with Carlos Santana. "Ice" is definitely a number he could have written. Maybe a duo one day ? It is science-fiction of course, but how great a moment it could be ! Andrew delivers here one of his most emotional guitar beak ever during this tour. FABULOUS. There are really no other words.

For their live come back, Camel did not take any risk (just like Yes did for the fantastic "Keys" albums). They picked up one of the best songs from each album. From their first one up to "Nude". The latter will also feature two songs (like "Snow"). While "Drafted" was again one of the best and passionate songs from the album, I could never stand "Citylife" and its poppy orientation.

Second CD features the whole of "Dust & Dreams" which is a good idea, since it was a concept album. I mentioned already that to my ears this new work was one of their best album so far (I have rated it four stars). On top of its intrinsic qualities, this live version adds such feeling and emotion that it even supersedes the studio effort (but most of the double CD will do so). To close this wonderful album, we' ll get "Lady Fantasy". OK, it is not the first time we get this one live but it is one of their most emblematic song.

I guess that you have understood that I can only give it a five stars rating.

Released to coincide with Camel's 20th anniversary and the promotion of "Dust and Dreams", "Never Let Go" is an expansive and ambitious live effort. The first disk provides a more than capable summation of prior classics, some of which are real gems not heard in a live context previously, such as "Echoes" and "Ice", both in excellent versions that capture the original spirit while providing for tasty live diversions. Other highlights are a splendid rendition of "Unevensong" and a languid but iconic "Drafted".

Disk 2 presents "Dust and Dreams" in its entirety. The band seems unsure whether to be faithful to the original or strike out adventurously, so, while it is professionally and ably performed, it does not really add new dimensions. In particular, the lack of female co-lead on "Rose of Sharon" and an overly miked "Mother Road" detract from the experience. The choice of encores might have pleased fans but one hardly needs more live versions of "Sasquatch" or "Lady Fantasy".

Thanks to the superb track selection and performance on disk 1, I am rounding up to 4 stars. Recommended for that reason, even though I still counsel the purchase of "Dust and Dreams" separately. Camel at 20 shows no signs of relinquishing their hold on anything.

I'm never going to let go of this!

Dust And Dreams was the best Camel album for a very, very long time. Indeed, it has become one of my all time favourite Camel albums. It is performed here in its entirety on this fantastic live album.

The set list is divided into two parts and is basically the very best of Camel on two discs. The material ranges all the way from their debut album up till Dust And Dreams. All songs are given magnificent performances. Latimer's guitar work is better than ever. His sustained guitar notes sends chills down my spine - such emotion he puts into his playing! He can make a guitar speak like very few people can.

The first part of the set consists of classic Camel. Basically all the songs here are better than on the studio recordings. The opening Never Let Go is significantly different from the original and all other live versions I have heard of this classic song. It is a very stripped down, acoustic version. Very brave to start the concert like this!

The selection from The Snow Goose significantly benefits from being played live; it has more power than the original version. Many of the songs are somehow given new life here. Ice, an instrumental from the I Can See Your House From Here album, is simply breathtaking.

The second set consists of Dust And Dreams (plus an encore including the eternal Lady Fantasy). The Dust And Dreams songs sound even better here than they did on the studio album, primarily because of the improved drum sound. The studio version had those stale 80's sounding drums. Here the drumming is more lively and "genuine" for lack of a better word.

If I must point out a weak link in this album it has to be the keyboards. They could be more organic and "real". Especially on Lady Fantasy where the organ is replaced by electronic keyboards. Doesn't quite fit this song, I think. But the amazing guitar work overshadows any lack in the keyboard department.

I will not say too much about Dust And Dreams here. See the reviews for the studio album. But I can say as much as this though: It is a stunning conceptual masterpiece, very emotional and Mother Road is a great rock song with an excellent guitar melody. Even if I like this live version very much, I wouldn't say that it makes the studio album redundant.

If all you know from Camel is their first four studio albums, this double live album is an excellent place to start if you want to explore some later Camel stuff. However, I would say that the Coming Of Age live album (which is available both as a double CD and a live DVD) is slightly better than this. The old Live Record from the 70's, on the other hand - great though it is! - doesn't even come close to any of these two, and both Never Let Go and Coming Of Age are extremely highly recommended.