NUDE

Kudos to Camel not to rest on laurels or quitting it for a day. Unlike Genesis and Yes, these guys embraced synths and new wave without leaving much complexity behind on this album. They even went to ambitious as to build another concept album full of intelligent instrumental music consisting of equal dose of classic rock instruments and electronics. Rather than building sophisticated prog-rock playing patterns, it is the overall ambition of compositions and concept feeling that stays behind. Guitar is actually more restrained than in the 80's and so are drums. Keyboards are the main instrument on this album. My favourite ones are partly prog-related "Docked" and "Beached". The track "Reflections" quite nicely represents the more retrospective but not any more romantic mood to be found here. It's fine to realize that in 1981, there were still prog-rock bands willing to experiment, develop and put out concept albums. Things were not so consistent on the next Camel album, unfortunately.