MIRAGE

Camel followed up their eponymous debut album with the brilliant 'Mirage', released in March of 1974 by the classic lineup of Andrew Latimer, Peter Bardens, Andy Ward, and Doug Ferguson. This second studio album seems to be following closely in the footsteps of the band's melodic and moody first album from one side, but from another it also introduces an array of new and exciting sounds, this time with an even greater influence from the Canterbury scene, especially Caravan and their jazz-tinted explorations. Composed of just five tracks, two of which are multi-part suites, 'Mirage' is naturally one of the more accessible and successful Camel albums, with its strong melodies and chiseled arrangements, through which the listener could appreciate the majestic interplay between the guitar work and the organs; just wonderful musicianship from a band that tends to focus more on melody, structure and mood, rather than technicality and flamboyancy, which might also be the reason why this recording lacks some of the bombastic and cathartic qualities associated with the progressive rock genre.

The entire album flows evenly and is a rather enjoyable listen, starting off with the up-tempo rocking opener 'Freefall', one of the more straightforward Camel songs, definitely carrying great commercial potential. Yet the musicianship and the prudent playing on this track are never compromised. This one is followed by the first instrumental on the album called 'Supertwister', a song that sees Andy Latimer's enchanting flute playing, a nice addition to the sound palette of the album and a really mellow piece. The three-part suite 'The White Rider', closing off side one, might as well be the most exciting number on here, the instrumental work on this track is relentless and the gorgeous melodies seem to be in-tune with the aim of the song, simply an excellent work of prog. 'Earthrise' is the second instrumental off the album, a more ambitious and more complex arrangement here, that showcases the more experimental side of Camel's music. Finally, there is the iconic epic 'Lady Fantasy', seen by many as one of the hymns of 70s prog rock. A worthy piece of music, this three-part song carries some excellent and memorable sections as well as some of the most relentless Andrew Latimer playing yet. The entire 'Mirage' album is a very eclectic Camel release and an excellent one, too, but it also seems to be a bit one-dimensional and safe, always moody and never overly flamboyant - its strengths lie in the excellent songwriting and tremendous instrumental work, and despite the lack of experimentation, 'Mirage' remains not only a Camel essential but also a 70s prog gem.

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