BIG SKY

"Big sky" was former Camel keyboard player Peter Bardens' (here calling himself "Pete") penultimate album, prior to his untimely death in 2002. Released in 1995, this is very much a solo effort. This gives the album something of a home-made feel, with ubiquitous synth sounds and drum machine rhythms being the norm. Bardens old pal Mick Fleetwood plays drums on two tracks ("China blue" and "You got it") and former Camel band-mate Andy Latimer sings backing vocals (but no guitar) on "On a roll".

The opening track, "China blue" has something of a post Water Pink Floyd feel to it, being a melancholy downbeat number. Despite the Latin mood of the piece, "Puerto Rico", the longest track on the album at 5½ minutes retains an understated feel which tends to prevail throughout the album. "Big sky" has what appears to be a decent sax solo, but as no sax player is listed I can only assume that this is actually Bardens on keyboards.

One of the album's highlights is undoubtedly "Gunblasters", a spirited instrumental with some fine lead guitar work. This is one of a handful of instrumental tracks, but none are what might be described as complex, each being the simple development of a basic theme. Towards the end of the album, the tracks get noticeably briefer, these interlude instrumentals perhaps being symptomatic of the ideas drying up. Indeed "The last waltz" and "For old times sake" both feel like incomplete pieces. The closing "Scarletti" is a solo piano piece firmly rooted in the classical era.

The 2004 Talking Elephant release has two extra tracks recorded around the same time. "The Yuki dance" was recorded in Malibu, and bears the hallmarks of that region, while "Bump 'n' grind" is actually the most rock orientated number on the entire album.

Overall, the album has a laid back, sometimes easy listening feel. This is a bit misleading, as there is actually plenty going on throughout the album, admittedly with nothing truly exceptional to report.

Overall, the album has a laid back, sometimes easy listening feel. This is a bit misleading, as there is actually plenty going on throughout the album, admittedly with nothing truly exceptional to report.

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