MIRAGE

This album is more representative to the sound of Camel, toning down somewhat (but not all) the fierce musicianship presently on their debut album, preferring melodicism and deeper atmosphere. Flute is introduced as well as more progressive song structures and textures. Given that the band would continue dropping their original classic rock style in future albums, this is a good blend of progressive rock and classic rock that can be recommended to fans of either genres.

There's little doubt that all band members continue at the top of their game instrumentally speaking, just like in their debut. Great guitar tones, great keyboard patches. Very solid rhythm section.

Freefall begins the album with a straight up rock vibe and surprisingly mediocre vocals, easily the weakest song the band composed up to this point. Not to say that it's useless: far from it, but you'd find more passion on their first album, this song seems like a failed attempt to re-light the fire.

Supertwister is a more delicate, yet intricate piece with outstanding flute passages and impeccable chemistry between band members as they change tempos and time signatures with ease. My personal favorite song here.

Nimrodel is fractured with an abandoned motif in the first minute, followed by a military march. Then the song properly starts with much better vocals, melodic guitar and flute lines, and excellent instrumental sections. The first is marathon-paced with synthesizer solo, the second mid-paced and atmospheric with a bass-heavy synthesizer motif and beautiful guitar soloing on top. You simply forget about the song's flawed intro.

EarthRise is another successful instrumental with plenty of guitar and synthesizer fireworks. I love the drive this song has at times with rapid-fire guitar strumming and percussion work, it makes you forgive its slight repetitiveness.

'Lady Fantasy' oh what an awful first minute. Repetitive guitar riffing with painfully loud piercing synthesizer loops going on and on and on. Maybe I should edit the song and stop whining as there's very little that goes wrong afterwords. Melodic lines, strong romantic lyrics, great keyboard playing, a couple frantic breakdowns, its variety works well. The highlight is obviously the middle section with subtle guitar and synthesizer backdrop to a highly emotional guitar solo that simply weeps. It's depressingly beautiful.

4.5 Star Songs: Nimrodel, Supertwister

4 Star Songs: Earthrise, Lady Fantasy.

2.5 Star Song: Free Fall

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