MIRAGE

Until now I've written three rewiews: Dark side of the moon (my all time favorite album), Selling england by the pound and Wish you were here. I think i've succeeded to express my feelings with the last one, but I also really love the two others. I'll try to make the same with this masterpiece.

After an eponymous underrated album, Camel tried to show his musical abilities. Technically the band was very strong: Peter Bardens as the shy keyboard hero (his departure would be crucial for Camel's sound), Doug Ferguson as the dynamic bassist, Andy Latimer as the innovative guitar god and band leader and singer ( with Bardens) and Andy Ward as the powerful drummer. In fact, they must proof their melody sense and strong composition.

As the first song start, we could say they succeeded. "Freefall" with an inspired guitar line, good keyboard sound, speed bass and jazz inspiration, is only the first stage of Camel art and it's really bright.

After comes "Supertwister" which shows Latimer's capacity as a flautist and a strong sense of melody. This shows the influence of Peter Gabriel as a flautist but funnier (maybe because of the final sound effects) a little as Ian Anderson.

Then there is a very important track, the first Camel's epic: "Nimrodel/The Procession/White Rider". This began with guitar arpegio with lot of sounds effects and Bardens's synth. Then comes noise of crowd with drums roll and flaute melody. After there is a section which reminds me Tolkiens universe with mellotron sound, sweet guitar line and vocals by Latimer. Then, the rythm section becomes busy during the impressive Bardens synth solo. Then, the song becomes quieter with Latimer soft voice. Then a spacy slide guitar solo closes this epic and the side A.

We are impressed but we don't even know the best is to come.

The side B starts with "Earthrise". This is Mirage's "Arubaluda". This song includes guitar and keyboards solo with Ward's powerful beat (he even plays a drums solo). This is good but not as great as the other masterpieces of the album.

Then, THE Camel's masterpiece: "Lady Fantasy". It begins with a spacy keybords line with a crazy guitar riff and stong rythmic. After, Latimer plays a cool guitar linen, before singing. After the second verse comes an impressive keyboards solo. Then after the third verse starts duing powerful rythm section Latimer's speed guitar solo and it's really bright. When it ended, the song becomes quieter and more melancholic. Latimer plays a really beautiful guitar line or solo, I don't what it is, it's wizardery and emotion (Latimer himself cried playing this part in a video). Then after on organ part, there is another guitar solo which shows more intern emotions and I think it's one of the greatest ever (I really love the last note of the solo). When this ended, sweet vocals sing the end of the lyrics (it's to be a love song). Suddenly, the guitar becomes violent and nervous as the other instruments. Latimer and Bardens communicate with solos. After angry guitar chords, the song ended with the guitar line of the begining.

At the realise of the album, it became a success and critics gave favorable reviews. But, after more than 35 years it's been forgotten and in fact it's still modern and impressive. With only five tracks as King Crimson's "In the Court of the Cimson King", Pink Floyd's "Wish you were Here" and "Animals", ELP's "Brain Salad Sugery" and PFM's "Per un amico", it's a prog rock masterpiece.

P.S: Sorry for my bad english, I'm french.