CAMERA CAMERA

Here goes - I will probably be barred for life from the Archives but I truly love this album, as for the remaining band members' photograph - dig the patchwork jacket, Mick !! Oh, you gotta love the 80's fashions...... Now for some trivia - there was an obsession with cameras around this time : Gentle Giant - 'I am a Camera' from Civilian, Yes - 'Into the Lens' from Drama (and Buggles' rendition, also called 'I am a Camera'), Hammill did a song called 'Polaroid' in 1979 - you get the picture (ho ho - pun intended) The music presented here by the much-loved Annie Haslam and crew is very much of a 'New-Wave' 80's creation, but in all fairness, the music is still firmly prog-rock, (kind of on-par with Camel's 'Nude' album from the same time) - let's see why I would say this ; the production is crisp, with the overall mix well balanced, with emphasis on Jon Camp's busy (and often complicated) bass-lines, the drumming is pretty good, the keyboards are quite dominant and well played (I don't find them to be as cheezy as many say) and Michael Dunford plays more electric guitar this time around. The compositions themselves, in particular the longer tunes - Camera Camera, Tyrant-Tula, Okichi-San (indeed a superb, classic Renaissance piece) and Ukraine Ways maintain the quality of earlier material, maybe with harsher tones, complete with complex instrumental passages and tempo changes, and Annie in exceptionally fine form - stretching her vocal chords as far as they can go, whilst the remaining tracks could be considered prog-pop, and very good, especially the tracks 'Remember' and 'Jigsaw'. 'Running Away from You' and 'Fairies' are quite commercial but pleasant. For me, I play this record as often as their earlier releases, so, if one appreciates good music, go for it - give it a chance.