THE SNOW GOOSE

After the excellent "Mirage", Camel embarked on the creation of a conceptual work using "The Snow Goose", the literary text by American writer Paul Gallico set in the English town of Essex during the years of WWII, as a source of inspiration. Initially intended to accompany the music with a narrative taken from the book to give it greater support, Gallico's refusal to use it as a reference led the band to opt for a completely instrumental album. However, this setback did not prevent the duo Andy Latimer and Peter Bardens, the band's main composers, develop a clear timeline and a very successful portrayal of the personalities and different moods of the protagonists based on the circumstances they have to face. And therein lies a fundamental part of the charm of "The Snow Goose".

As the music unfolds, "Rhayader", the hermit and deformed bird keeper secluded in the town's coastal lighthouse, makes his appearance in the piece that bears his name, guided by Bartens' keyboards and minimoog and Latimer's delicate flute, also a protagonist with the bluesy guitar and sharp solo in the excellent "Rhayader Goes to Town". Rhayader is not alone, the luminous acoustic guitar arpeggios of "Fritha" introduce the young girl who, despite Rayhader's appearance, is not afraid to bring him an injured snow goose to heal. The beautiful relationship built by the characters is shattered by the departure of the recovered goose, and Bartens' sorrowful organ reflects the lighthouse keeper's desolation in the grief-stricken and plaintive "Rhayader Alone". Drama and tragedy climax when Rhayader dies helping to rescue Allied soldiers off the French coast of Dunkirk. "Preparation", "Dunkirk" and "Epitaph" admirably depict the sad situation with an eerie choir of angels of death, ghostly and disturbing keyboards from Bardens and Andy Ward's unleashed drumming. However, the story has a positive and hopeful twist, the goose returns to the British coast and Fritha recognises Rhayader in the bird, flying free on the beautiful and understatedly festive "La Princesse Perdue".

Given the ambition of the project, the band invited the London Symphony Orchestra, which, while not particularly prominent, contributes to the dramatic atmospheres.

From the remastered 2002 edition, the extended live version of the song "The Snow Goose" is worth mentioning; and from the 2009 edition, the interesting live recording for BBC Radio of part of the album.

"The Snow Goose" is not only an excellent album and an obligatory reference of the genre, but it also consolidates Camel as one of its most representative exponents.

4/4.5 stars