MIRAGE

Mirage was the first in a run of three albums that most Camel fans would agree represented their golden era. As to which of the three was the best, opinions vary, but for me it's hard to beat Mirage. There are only five tracks but all are top quality. Two of the tracks are extended suites, and I think these are the highlights of the album. Lady Fantasy has long been my favourite Camel song. It goes from gentle melody (the guitar line from Andy Latimer is sublime) to freaky organ solos and back. I particularly love the bass and guitar interlude in the middle which you just know is about to burst into a crescendo of sound. The other suite, The White Rider, is just as good. The ending with the repeated bass line (is it bass pedals, I can't tell?) and the guitar coming in reminds me of the ending of Yes' Starship Trooper.

The other three tracks on the album consist of a heavier opening song, Freefall, and two gentler instrumentals. I can detect a sound similar to some of Focus' work on Supertwister.

On the CD reissue there are four bonus tracks. The live version of Supertwister and the alternative mix of Lady Fantasy don't really add much to the album tracks, but for those who don't have Camel's first album, the live renditions of Mystic Queen and Arubaluba should provide a good reason to go out and buy it.

I have no hesitation in giving this album a 5 star rating. It was the first Camel album I heard, and I would recommend it as an excellent starting point for new fans.