NUDE

On the surface, "Nude" would seem to be Camel's 80s version of The Snow Goose. While the concept is not strictly plagiaristic, it is hardly original. But musically it is far less interesting and more ambient. It is telling that most of the best tracks here are also the ones with vocals, which was never hitherto the case for Camel.

Still, there are shades of past glories as well as some impressive steps forward. The opener "City Lights" is like a sequel to "Breathless" but superior on a number of levels. The album really cranks up for "Drafted", thanks to one of Latimer's most expressive statements since The "Snow Goose" theme, and the instrumentals "Docked", "Beached" and "Captured" are all top notch intricate efforts. Camel's strongest homage to the blues takes place in "Lies", dominated by Latimer's poignant notes. Many of these feature later live versions that equal or trump the original work, rendering this album a bit less essential than it might otherwise be.

While only fleetingly laying bare the essential qualities of what makes Camel great, "Nude" preserved the group's legacy during some stark times for progressive rock.