A NOD AND A WINK

Well with one month to go to close 2002, I will say that although it has been a full year of great prog releases (BEARD's "Snow", PT's "In Absentia", GODSPEE's "Yanqui U.X.O.", ) my pick for the album of the year is CAMEL's "A Nod & A Wink". A couple of years back I was travelling with some friends thru the US chasing Sweden's "The FLOWER KINGS" who were on tour and remember picking up CAMEL's "Rajaz" in Boston. I remember sitting in the back of my friends car completely zoning out to the sweet sounds of this album and being totaly blown away. CAMEL's 2002 release "A Nod & A Wink" is also in parallel with "Rajaz" and is nothing short of amazing ! Andy Latimer is at IMHO his all time best writing and performing some of CAMEL's best tracks ever! His vocals and guitars are breathtaking as are the songs which are truely magical. This band sounds incredibly full of lustre and I think this may be the best CAMEL lineup yet. Andy is helped out by a number of other CAMEL'ites including Canada's own Guy Leblanc (NATHAN MAHL) on keyboards, Colin Bass (bass) and Denis Celment (drums). Andy Latimer obviously put his heart and soul into this album fittengly dedicating this deeply emotional album in loving memory to Pete Bardens... you will be missed Peter ! I would strongly recommend this album to all lovers of symphonic prog rock... "A Nod & A Wink" is anything short of spectatcular... essential music.