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The Camel appreciation thread
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    Posted: June 13 2018 at 01:35
Originally posted by Kingsnake Kingsnake wrote:

Colin Bass and Doug Ferguson (but also David Patton) are more basic players, but that is also important. But don't be fooled; even basic playing can be very difficult.



I think Doug played really well with Ward, all of the rhythm work on Snow Goose and Moon Madness is very accurate and very much in time. Doug can get a bit funky like on “Six Ate”. Any bass player next to Sinclair is a unfair comparison though...
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A Nod and a Wink is pure symphonic prog with a romantic/pastoral feel, can't go wrong there.

Rajaz is more showboating for the guitarskills of Andy. It has some middle-eastern flavours aswell.

Harbour of Tears has irish/folkish influences. Also a very special album. But I would recommend the live-version of the full album, wich can be found on the double live-album Coming of Age.

But again: A Nod and a Wink is a sure thing. All the songs are strong, epic and symphonic.
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^
No hesitation whatsoever - grab them four including A Nod And a Wink from 2002 - each has a different feel but all are so precious and delicate, true masterpieces to my ears and soul
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Solid band.....like the first 5 up to and including Rain Dances.
After that it's hit or miss for me....I picked up Breathless, I Can See..., and Nude on original vinyl recently but they really didn't do a lot for me...they are ok but nothing special. Saw Single Factor and Stationary Traveler also...not sure if I want to spend the $20 for them both.
Can any Camel fans talk about the later ones ans which are worth getting...? And that includes the new ones from the 90's.
One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
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I went back and listened today to Rain Dances, which I hadn't done in a long time, and boy what a great pleasure - an album from '77 so fresh and stimulating !!!!

The jazzy parts are a treat, Sinclair on the bass - Andy himself plays fretless on one track - and the whole dynamic is fabulous.

(What I find specially rewarding on any and every album is the general feeling of happiness and optimism the music conveys, even when intense and moving as frequently is)
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Originally posted by scruffydragon scruffydragon wrote:

.
Originally posted by MortSahlFan MortSahlFan wrote:

I like Camel, but not as much as I used to.. I guess that's the true test.
 
I am in the same boat. I still listen to Camel but when I am in the mood. I guess if you overplay something it becomes far to familiar and a bit stale. Funny thing is move away for a year or two then have another listen and it sounds great again. Often I can pick up on things I missed the previous times around. Music inspired by the snow goose however seems to be one of those very rare pieces that never seems to age and I often turn to when I need to chill out. Timeless albums are so rare.
 
I would love to have a large poster of that albums cover to grace the wall above my CD player.


I listened to Camel when I as 13/14 years old and stopped when I was 18/19 (I wanted to be cool, so I move towards progmetal and other metal-thingies).
I picked up Camel again when I was 25 or 27 and was suprised at how good it was. I never stopped listening to it after that.

I guess I had a whole break from progrock for those 8 to 10 years, wich is a shame. Although I picked up some great other music in the meantime. But I''m deriving (again).

I have a tattoo of the Snow Goose-album cover by the way.
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I’ve loved Camel for decades - especially Moonmadness and Mirage.
I’m really impressed that Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt claims Andy as his main inspiration. This, even at the time of Orchid and Morningrise.   
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Originally posted by Kingsnake Kingsnake wrote:

^

Raindances is a weird little gem. Unlike Camel ever did and they never ventured into this kind of jazzrock-kinda thing.

 
 
Funny thing with Camel they always had that Jazzy vibe and edge to their music. Check out their first album especially the track Six Ate. That tune is just glorious to listen to. It was one of their strong points but they never overplayed it.
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.
Originally posted by MortSahlFan MortSahlFan wrote:

I like Camel, but not as much as I used to.. I guess that's the true test.
 
I am in the same boat. I still listen to Camel but when I am in the mood. I guess if you overplay something it becomes far to familiar and a bit stale. Funny thing is move away for a year or two then have another listen and it sounds great again. Often I can pick up on things I missed the previous times around. Music inspired by the snow goose however seems to be one of those very rare pieces that never seems to age and I often turn to when I need to chill out. Timeless albums are so rare.
 
I would love to have a large poster of that albums cover to grace the wall above my CD player.
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^The bassplaying on Raindances and A Live Record (also the BBC 1977 recordings) is out-of-this-world.
Especially First Light and Unevensong. But did you know that Andy played some of the bassparts on Raindances.

Raindances is a weird little gem. Unlike Camel ever did and they never ventured into this kind of jazzrock-kinda thing. Only some songs on Breathless come close.
When it comes to Camel, people also tend to forget Mel Collins (who for a while as an official member).

Colin Bass and Doug Ferguson (but also David Patton) are more basic players, but that is also important. But don't be fooled; even basic playing can be very difficult.
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For me actually Richard Sinclair was their best bassist. I'm fine with how both Colin Bass (I love 3Mustaphas3 by the way) and Doug Ferguson fit into Camel's music, but when Sinclair does it, listening just to the bass alone can make me happy.
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Originally posted by Kingsnake Kingsnake wrote:

I understand people long for the original line-up, but even bands that keep their line-up intact make terrible albums (Queen, Golden Earring, Rush, etc.)

At least Camel had the guts to release Nude, wich is a conceptalbums in 1981!!!


Maybe I came off a little strong about my lineup opinion before, just to be clear I think that Camel has always had great musicians and I find all their albums quite enjoyable. Nude is a great album!
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^Bass' singing on Pressure Points' Fingertips is excellent.
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^^  Finally someone mentions Colin Bass.

He has been with the band since 1979!!! He only didn't play on Single Factor and Stationairy Traveller.
He also an important vocalist for the band.

I understand people long for the original line-up, but even bands that keep their line-up intact make terrible albums (Queen, Golden Earring, Rush, etc.)

So that's not the point. Also if you listen to Keats (Bardens's project after Camel) you can hear the same soft-pop as on Breathless. At least I Can See Your House From Here has a lot of energy and fun in it.
It was just the times: 1978-1981 were difficult years for progbands to release epic symphonic songs.

If you look at Saga, Rush, Toto, Chicago; they all shortened their songs and went with a pop-structure and they survived.

At least Camel had the guts to release Nude, wich is a conceptalbums in 1981!!!
The only other band with the same guts I can think of is Eloy.

But, I'm diverting. I hope that people who love the first line up would at least give the albums Dust & Dreams, Harbour of Tears, Rajaz and A Nod and a Wink a try.
The production of Nod and a Wink is superb and it sounds just like the Moonmadnes-days.
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I like Camel, but not as much as I used to.. I guess that's the true test.
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Originally posted by Dellinger Dellinger wrote:

Originally posted by Cord Change Cord Change wrote:

Camel are my favourite prog band. I like the original band lineup best. I think that Latimer is one of the greatest guitarists of all time, I love his sound on Snow Goose and Moon Madness the most - he is also quite good at the flute. Ward, amazing drummer and the main reason I will always come back to Camel. I will always love Peter for "Fritha Alone". 

Camel are highly criticized for lacking vocally with no great singers. If you need singing in your prog then go listen to VDDG or Genesis. 

It does surprise me that prog heads dismiss Camel in the album reviews and that they don't receive as wide celebration as KC or Yes - Camel should be celebrated for being able to stick with the same lineup for more then one album if anything. 



Camel are very well loved around here. They have beaten ELP in polls, actually.

One of the great qualities that Andy Latimer possess's,  is the ability to keep the Camel sound alive.  Despite many band changes through it's time, he focuses on great musician ship and had the best including Phil Collins, Caravan members,  plus others great members of suberbs bands.   Smile

Sadly when when Pete left the band on his own accord,  Pete wanted the band to change direction and did not get on too well with Andy in this direction...  I love Pete's work and have all his albums,  but this to me is not Camel.  Andy has since regretted this,  and probably could of sorted this bitter row over his partnership ...  But since then , a lot of dedication has gone into a lot of past members work into Camel,  including Peter Bardens.

I'm very pleased with this current line up and you can probably say that Colin Bass  holds the record for the next longest member after Camel's founder member Andy Latimer,  named after the band  The Brew. 
Pete Jones and  Denis Clement hold a great foundation for what's hoping for another great new album, I hope!!...Smile

Here's hoping!!  Ermm
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Originally posted by Cord Change Cord Change wrote:

Camel are my favourite prog band. I like the original band lineup best. I think that Latimer is one of the greatest guitarists of all time, I love his sound on Snow Goose and Moon Madness the most - he is also quite good at the flute. Ward, amazing drummer and the main reason I will always come back to Camel. I will always love Peter for "Fritha Alone". 

Camel are highly criticized for lacking vocally with no great singers. If you need singing in your prog then go listen to VDDG or Genesis. 

It does surprise me that prog heads dismiss Camel in the album reviews and that they don't receive as wide celebration as KC or Yes - Camel should be celebrated for being able to stick with the same lineup for more then one album if anything. 



Camel are very well loved around here. They have beaten ELP in polls, actually.
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Camel are my favourite prog band. I like the original band lineup best. I think that Latimer is one of the greatest guitarists of all time, I love his sound on Snow Goose and Moon Madness the most - he is also quite good at the flute. Ward, amazing drummer and the main reason I will always come back to Camel. I will always love Peter for "Fritha Alone". 

Camel are highly criticized for lacking vocally with no great singers. If you need singing in your prog then go listen to VDDG or Genesis. 

It does surprise me that prog heads dismiss Camel in the album reviews and that they don't receive as wide celebration as KC or Yes - Camel should be celebrated for being able to stick with the same lineup for more then one album if anything. 
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Originally posted by Tuzvihar Tuzvihar wrote:

Hah! It's a pity I didn't know. I live nearby the club BTW. Did You also go to see Yes and SBB the next day?

funny I didn't even think of PA folk visiting the show...dumb me!

Nope I skipped June 3rd, but been there June 1st for Steve Hogarth solo gig. Nice one but a bit uneven
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^ I feel very sorry for you. Hope he can get better and able to reschedule. It'll be interesting if his UK dates get affected in a few months time.
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