BREATHLESS

My final review of a Camel album because I don't really care for any of the albums after this one so I don't have them. Some fans don't rate Breathless either, and whilst I admit it's a drop in quality from what has gone before, there's still some good stuff here, and only one song that really shouldn't have made the cut (more on that later).

The best track here is undoubtedly Echoes, an extended piece, mostly instrumental but with some vocals towards the end. It includes excellent guitar from Latimer and keyboards from Bardens. Also very good is The Sleeper, and the title track, whilst less proggy, isn't a bad song. Summer Lightning gets a bad press for its disco feel, but it does have a brilliant guitar solo at the end.

My nomination for worst song has to be Down On The Farm. The lyrics range from twee ("Bunnies are bouncing") to puerile ("the ploughman takes a peek at the farmer's daughter who's hanging her undies in the sun"). There is nothing here to like, and the song shouldn't be anywhere near a Camel album.

The final song, Rainbow's End, is a beautiful piano led piece which talks about the ending of a relationship. It is poignant because it's the last song on Peter Barden's last album with the band. Camel were never the same afterwards, in my opinion.