THE SNOW GOOSE

The Snow Goose is the third studio album by Camel, released in April 1975. It's a novel-inspired (Paul Gallico's "The Snow Goose") conceptual and instrumental suite, divided in sixteen movements of different genres (from folk to psychedelia, from jazz to electronic music)

1. The Great Marsh (2:02) 2. Rhayader (3:01) 3. Rhayader Goes (5:20) To Town Aquatic sounds of seagulls, very slow, then the music starts (the first song is in fact an intro) which changes with the lunge of Latimer's flute, very good, which gives life to a folk song, in Jethro Tull style, rating 7.5 to the first two songs; then, around 5 minutes there is a song that often changes pace, with a slow central guitar, in the Pink Floyd (Gilmour) style, good but rather epigonic. Rating 7.5 / 8. We are on good sophistication level while keeping simple melodies.

4. Sanctuary (1:05) 5. Fritha (1:19) 6. The Snow Goose (3:12) 7. Friendship (1:44) 8. Migration (2:01) At about 10 minutes and 30 seconds the fourth song starts, a very relaxing and relaxed melody with acoustic guitar and flute, almost a precursor of the new age, which continues with the next one: Camel continue with their pastel shades, rating 7.5 for the 4 and 5 songs; then comes the song that gives rise to the title of the record, a Gilmourian ballad (again), uninspired, Camel continue with descriptive and not very narrative music (rating 7) until a decidedly more interesting part begins, guided by a oboe and a bassoon, (Friendship) classical music, it is one of the best parts (rating 8 ) but it doesn't last long and immediately afterwards Migration starts with background voices reminiscent of a sexy comedy of those years, but the rhythm and the guitar they are almost funky, rating 7+. It ends fading, perhaps because the first side ended.

Side B 9. Rhayader Alone (1:50) 10. Flight of the Snow Goose (2:40) 11. Preparation (3:58) Song 9 looks like Chopin's funeral march, less intriguing (rating 6.5) until an initially rhythmically sustained electronic piece starts (number 10) that ends up slowing down repetitively (7+). At 24 minutes and 26 second part Preparation, a real song, which ends in crescendo, almost vocal, 7.5.

12. Dunkirk (5:19) Very repetitive, a march, which ends with a gong, rating 7.5 / 8. We are around 33 and a half minutes; 13. Epitaph (2:07) percussive style (7) 14. Fritha Alone (1:40) Evocative piece with the piano, beautiful and short melodic (7,5 / 8) 15. La Princesse Perdue (4:44) this is the best song of the record, incisive, inspired (8+) 16. The Great Marsh (1:20): the initial sounds come back.

In my opinion, "The Snow Goose" is entertainment music, of course, quality entertainment, but still entertainment worthy of a good soundtrack of a nature documentary. It doesn't have the intellectual complexity of prog nor the emotional moments of melodic songs. No song is bad, but memorable moments are lacking and the fragmentary nature of the compositions does not allow for the emotional involvement or the development of the typical complexities of prog, that is, intellectual passion. In my opinion this is a minor opera, a good work done by a competent band, but it is far from being a masterpiece of prog rock. It barely reaches the three stars.

Rating 7+. Three stars.