Stationary Traveller: Camel

Rather neglected in Camel's discography I guess. I really fell in love with this album. Even though there's little Prog on it. But it's just beautiful...

What are your thoughts?

Definitely a very good album. Even in it's weaker spots, Andy Latimar's playing ALWAYS shines through. `Fingertips' is just beautiful!

In my little opinion, even `The Single Factor' before it isn't the unlistenable dud that it's sometimes made out to be. Lightweight, perhaps, but certainly not outright bad, and like on `Statinary', Latimar's playing shines wonderfully.

Apart from "Fingertips" and "Long Goodbyes" ...it really doesn't sound commercial to me. Stylistically it presents itself as a much darker album than Single Factor or I Can See Your House From Here. "West Berlin" contains a basic 4/4 time signature, but is more in the vain of some of the darker Alan Parsons material. You can basically compare until you are blue in the face and arrive nowhere. The album is not about comparing unless everyone sees it as a weak attempt at commercial mainstream writing. Stationary Traveller has it's own personality.

I purchased it on the back of the hearing Cloak and Dagger Man and also after recently discovering that Ton Scherpenzeel (such an underrated keyboardist imo) was on it.  I'm struggling with the rest of the album although will persevere.

^That will be the 'Scherpenzeel effect' then

Andrew Latimer's individuality as a writer grew and developed to more sophisticated levels...after the final departure of Peter Bardens. By the time Rain Dances had been released, it was obvious that Andrew Latimer was, as a guitarist, venturing into a Jazz Rock mentality of playing regarding the growth and overall change of his phrasings ....which the difference in his playing when compared to Mirage and The Snow Goose was more than enough evidence to back up the theory that he had not only progressed as a guitarist, but was changing his style. Then came BREATHLESS and his playing was more progressive than Rain Dances, but still holding on to a Jazz Rock flow within the improvisation itself. Then Andrew Latimer began working with Kit Watkins which was a very high step to take in the area of Jazz Rock. Even though Kit Watkins was a Classical pianist, he was an amazing impeccable Jazz pianist and for a while I had personally thought Camel might turn into Brand X.....no..no..no.. I Can See Your House From Here was extremely sugar coated and I'm sure that Phil Spector would understand the science of this formula. The idea to create a new style of music is based on a new discovery of a formula. If it were commercially viable, it could still contain sophisticated playing on an instrument. The playing of instruments on I Can See Your House From Here is outstanding, but some of the more hokey sounding songs give off the impression that they were trying something that they didn't necessarily need to try. It felt as if they were attempting to be commercial sounding, but it wasn't in their heart to follow that path.  

Edited by TODDLER - February 11 2015 at 10:04

I may be Camel's most devoted fan, but I really didn't rate Stationary Traveller for a long time.

TODDLER wrote: richardh wrote: TODDLER wrote: richardh wrote: ^That will be the 'Scherpenzeel effect' then   Fans of this album might like some of Kayak's stuff perhaps. Ton was the Dutch equivalent of Tony Banks as a skilled writer and arranger although I'm not sure that Camel really got the best out of him.   Ton Scherpenzeel is a very skilled writer. Although Kayak have sometimes ventured into a commercial vain of writing, their progressive side is unique and worth taking a chance on. I have the original recording of Merlin which is on cd and imported from Holland. The first 5 tracks are magnificent! It's a little over the length of the average EP.   On another note, Stationary Traveller is well suited for a listen when travelling by train. You know that. It's sort of in sync with Pulsar's Gorlitz. In that sense it is quite isolated from the overall affect their other albums have on me.   The original Merlin is okay although the later re- recorded and extended version is much better imo. There is also an excellent DVD to accompany although would now be very hard to get I expect.   I love listening to my I-pod on the train although due to space constraints I only have 3 of the classic 70's Camel albums on it so I can't test this unfortunately ( and I have also ditched the awful I-Tunes software so can't change the selection). I might try the CD in the car instead, sometimes a good way to break in albums.   When I heard the studio remake of Merlin..I was disappointed in the vocals. I don't believe I was hearing the vocalist chosen for the first Merlin and I disregarded it for that reason.