BREATHLESS

Camel

Symphonic Prog

3.17 | 963 ratings

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Zitro
Prog Reviewer

2.2 Stars

What is it?: An average album from Camel. Here, the band seem to have pursued the pop, but realized that they didn't put enough quality songwriting to make it very enjoyable. While the first songs are solid, the second half of the disc is disappointing.

You can already feel it in the title track. Title tracks are usually supposed to be strong, and this one passes as merely above average. The instrumentation is nice and lovely in moments, but don't you think Camel can do better than this? Echoes manages to be the best track of the album because the band is at its best in terms of musicianship and dynamics. This track is a concert favourite and recalls their first 3 albums. It is also the only track that can safely be called prog. Wing and a Prayer is a catchy pop tune and slightly stronger than the title track. That's it: it all goes downhill from here:

Down on a farm is a light-hearted tune that does nothing for me.

Starlight Ride is a soft dreamy piece that is also uninteresting.

Summer Lighting: An uptempo song with a disco-like rhythm. Not bad, but somewhat overlong. I love the extended guitar solo.

You Make me Smile: uninteresting disco song that only has a decent solo preventing it from being total garbage. The melodies are very weak.

The Sleeper: Just when you think it will be a prog classic since it's long, it ends up being a jazz-fusion jam, something that Camel is not very good at. Stick with George Duke instead of this.

Rainbow's End: Not bad. This is a symphonic closer that reminds me of Genesis' Wind and Wuthering.

Highlights: Echoes Let-Downs: You Make me Smile, Down on a farm, Starlight Ride

My Grade : D+

Zitro | 3/5 | 2006-1-5

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