ICHIGO ICHIE - LIVE IN JAPAN 2016

"Treasure every encounter for it will never recur"

I pre-ordered Camel's new DVD Ichigo Ichie directly from the band's own record company Camel Productions and got it very nicely signed by Andy Latimer. The DVD contains a strong live performance by the band filmed in Tokyo, Japan in 2016. Looking at the cover picture, you will see two figures. The one in the foreground I suppose is Latimer and the one on the background must be Colin Bass. This is the duo that have kept Camel going for many years now. Also drummer Denis Clement remains from previous line-ups, but once again we have a new face in the keyboard department in Peter Jones. Surprisingly, Jones also takes lead vocals for a couple of songs including opener Never Let Go.

If you enjoyed Camel's previous two DVD releases, you will undoubtedly enjoy this one too as it is comparable in quality with 2014's In From The Cold and 2010's The Opening Farewell. The set list overlaps significantly with these earlier releases, with the majority of the songs performed having also appeared on one or the other of the aforementioned live DVDs. There are however also a couple of surprises, my personal favourite of which is The White Rider. This wonderful song, originally from the Mirage album, hasn't been included on many live recordings before.

The first ten songs in the set are all from the band's first five albums, released between 1973 and 1977. The following handful of songs are from the late 70's to the early 90's. Interestingly, the newest songs are from 1991's Dust And Dreams album which means that there is nothing at all included from the band's three most recent studio discs (not counting the re-recorded version of The Snow Goose). Personally I would have loved to see more "rare" songs both newer and older that haven't been included on other recent live releases, but you can't have everything can you.

Another excellent Camel DVD!

This new DVD was the opportunity for me to rediscover a band that I have always put behind some symphonic bands like Genesis and Yes. The reason was probably because of their quiet approach to the style with the melodies developed slowly in a dreamy, peaceful and melancholic atmosphere. The band can put you to somewhere in the world in the ancient times, especially with the flute passages. The music is essentially based around the guitar playing of Latimer and some brilliant keyboards intrusions of Peter Jones who lost his sight but never his sense of compositions and solid playing. The DVD is fun to watch not only for the great songs but for the light show and the camera angles who capture many distant shots of the full stage. I have not seen the latest DVD of Camel since "Coming of Age", but I would be surprised that those are a lot better than this one. This is another winner for a great band.