A NOD AND A WINK

If it's got to be the last Camel record, what a testament for prog posterity mister Latimer had offered to us all! Considering the adversity, pain and losses he had encountered during his long recording career, this is a crowning achievement summarizing all the best qualities Camel brought to the symphonic rock music. Sensible and emotional guitars solos, great melodies, soaring hymns - For Today, for that purpose, would fit well as a final flight. And it's been long time since Latimer hasn't been so well backed, notably by Leblanc and Clement who make me proud to be a french canadian prog aficionado... If songs are not all immaculate ones, yet there's no weak moment. Each time i listen to A Nod and a Wink, i feel like meeting an old pal i haven't seen for a long time. Five stars for the the whole career exemplified by this last record.

Add. August 2022. At the time of writing, 15 years later, this is still the last all original material studio recording, putting aside the newly recorded shining version of The Snowgoose. Yet many pages have been added to the circonvoluted story of Camel. Guy LeBlanc have passed sadly, RIP. But in all justice the addition of Peter Jones, giving to the band his best keys player since Peter Bardens, without missing the fact he could be the best singer since Richard Sinclair, suggest one evident thing: come on Mr Latimer, A Nod an a Wink shouldn't be your studio testament.