RAJAZ

This is a typical "CAMEL mood", with a few defects and a lot of interesting breaks through, within the "song-format"...despite of deserving actually a 3 stars score whenever I like to compare it to some Andy Latimer's early works, finally I find that's a natural and coherent effort too, a sort of return to their roots !! (listen to the splendid - but a bit forced and unnatural - work of "Harbour of Tears", in order to understand what I mean)... well honestly not the whole stuff here is much inspiring, because there are a few sad songs, sung by Andy in a tepid manner (unlike his vocal interpretation in "A Nod and a Wink", this latter being very brilliant and poetical as well, in comparison to his standard), which make this album a bit boring and formulaic in a few moments... The first track "Three Wishes" is splendid, despite of the "Floydian" citation at the beginning, because the prosecution is stunning, by means of a monumental guitar solo and a tasteful interplay with the Moog/Hammond as well (a true " Camel imprinting"!!). Besides the track "Sahara" and the last one "Lawrence" too are fine tasteful gems, sometimes resembling the style of "Ice"... instead the other sad songs being anyway very close to the typical "CAMEL's style" aren't so brilliant in comparison to those ones belonging to their classics e.g. "Echoes", "Nimrodel", "Lady Fantasy", etc....), but it never minds!!

Recommended, even though it's not completely essential ...