RAIN DANCES

What is it?: Camel exploring pop and jazz. The band successfully blended the genres with their own sound to produce a very interesting album. It may suffer somewhat on the second side, but the first 4 songs are very impressive.

This is another great Camel Album. It is as good as its predecessor, but different. They changed their sound. They included jazz and pop elements to their symphonic soft rock style as well as Genesis influences. As a result, this is a very fresh album. When you hear the first track, you will be reminded that Camel is not the same: the saxophone is introduced, and it is more jazzy. The saxophone solo played above the great instrumentation is masterful. The next tracks are good: Metrognome is a genesis influenced track with an excellent chorus and some interesting uptempo instrumental moments; Tell me is a good mellow number with the bass guitar loud in the mix; Highways of the Sun is a good pop number; and the Uneven song is a pretty good jazz- rocker divided into two sections, the second half being the best part. The second half of the disc is less commercial and for me, less interesting. One of these days is a jazz- fusion workout (unusual for Camel), Elke sounds like something from Snow Goose, Skylines is more jazz that features a pretty good synth solo that reminds me of the Flower Kings. The final and title track is a good ending for the album: a short song dominated by strings and keyboards.

Highlights: First Light, Highways of the Sun Let Downs: One of these days, Elke

My Grade: B/C

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