Author Topic: Camel (Read 23116 times)

KevShmev · « **on:** May 16, 2009, 12:31:34 AM »

One of my favorite bands, and definitely one that is overlooked far too often. Very few bands can say that their first four studio albums were as good or better than Camel's first four. Moonmadness and Mirage are both desert island discs for me, in particular.

I also love the fact that they were very progressive, but never in the sense of overplaying at all or of having exaggerated song lengths. Many of their great songs seem to fall in the 5 to 10 minute range. Andrew Latimer's clean guitar tone is to die for, and how can you not love a band that regularly features a flute?!

And for point of reference, for those on the forum who haven't heard them yet, Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth has listed them as one of his biggest influences, and the most notable Opeth songs where this is evident are "Ending Credits," Benighted" (this one because the main acoustic riff is pretty much taken from "Never Let Go" from Camel's debut) and "Atonement" (on this one, the vocals under water effect, which Camel sometimes used to great effect, are in full force).

LifeIsChaos · « **Reply #1 on:** May 16, 2009, 02:58:16 AM »

I could not agree more, the Rain Dances album is one of my favorite. I saw them on the Snowgoose tour and Rain Dances tour both times they were excellent.

Nihil-Morari · « **Reply #2 on:** May 16, 2009, 03:41:11 AM »

I've never listened further than Ice and Lady Fantasy. And while I like Lady Fantasy, I absolutely love Ice.
Is there an album that has more of the soft beautiful tunes like Ice?

reneranucci · « **Reply #3 on:** May 16, 2009, 07:54:16 AM »

Wow, I was listening to Moonmadness yesterday before falling sleep. It's a great album, I love the melancholic feeling and how they manage to create a texture with the music, and to give a great flow to it. I love their style, the playing is very delicate so you don't feel overwhelmed with the musicianship all the time but you can still appreciate the complexity of what they're playing.

I have Snowgoose but haven't had time to listen to it yet. And I badly need to get Mirage, I think it will be in my next amazon batch.

reneranucci · « **Reply #4 on:** May 16, 2009, 07:56:35 AM »

Quote from: Nihil-Morari on May 16, 2009, 03:41:11 AM

I've never listened further than Ice and Lady Fantasy. And while I like Lady Fantasy, I absolutely love Ice.
Is there an album that has more of the soft beautiful tunes like Ice?

Moonmadness is soft and incredibly beautiful.

splent · « **Reply #5 on:** May 16, 2009, 09:33:42 AM »

Camel is a band that I know I must get into more.

LudwigVan · « **Reply #6 on:** May 17, 2009, 07:03:16 PM »

Mirage is my favorite Camel album. The first 2 albums seem to have a harder edge to them.

TAC · « **Reply #7 on:** May 17, 2009, 07:09:10 PM »

But what's my point of reference if I don't know the Opeth references??

LudwigVan..a little help here??

LudwigVan · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2009, 07:26:51 PM »

TAC, they're labelled as 70s prog (Canterbury scene), but they're not super-proggy in the sense of having weird time signatures. Camel is very instrumental-oriented with not such a great emphasis on vocals, which results in a lot of long jammy passages. There are times when they almost sound like a melodic Allman Bros Band. Guitarist Andrew Latimer is the real star of the band, his playing is clean and very melodic.

My guess is that it's not your cup of tea.

DarkLord_Lalinc · « **Reply #9 on:** May 17, 2009, 07:54:14 PM »

I first read the thread title as "Came!" and I was surprised it wasn't Zeltar the one who made it. Later on, it all made sense and my life got a new meaning

TempusVox · « **Reply #10 on:** May 17, 2009, 07:54:59 PM »

A Nod and a Wink is one of my favorite albums. Also check out Rajaz.

James007 · « **Reply #11 on:** May 17, 2009, 08:14:23 PM »

I saw Camel in 1973 and was hooked. I have all their albums and all the Barden albums too. There's genius in the stack.

TAC · « **Reply #12 on:** May 18, 2009, 04:44:00 AM »

Quote from: James007 on May 17, 2009, 08:14:23 PM

I saw Camel in 1973 and was hooked. I have all their albums and all the Barden albums too. There's genius in the stack.

SAW them in 1973?? Wow you might be the oldest of the Old Fogeys here!

Is that Barden, as in Gary Barden??

cthrubuoy · « **Reply #13 on:** May 18, 2009, 05:56:20 AM »

The Snow Goose is one of my favourite albums. Rhayader(sp.) is stupidly catchy.
I tried to get more into Camel but unfortunately, I can't stand the vocals. Have the got any other instrumental albums?

LudwigVan · « **Reply #14 on:** May 18, 2009, 10:44:14 AM »

Quote from: TAC on May 18, 2009, 04:44:00 AM

Quote from: James007 on May 17, 2009, 08:14:23 PM
I saw Camel in 1973 and was hooked. I have all their albums and all the Barden albums too. There's genius in the stack.
SAW them in 1973?? Wow you might be the oldest of the Old Fogeys here!

Is that Barden, as in Gary Barden??

No, that would be Peter Bardens.

James007 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 18, 2009, 08:41:57 PM »

Quote from: LudwigVan on May 18, 2009, 10:44:14 AM

Quote from: TAC on May 18, 2009, 04:44:00 AM
Quote from: James007 on May 17, 2009, 08:14:23 PM
I saw Camel in 1973 and was hooked. I have all their albums and all the Barden albums too. There's genius in the stack.
SAW them in 1973?? Wow you might be the oldest of the Old Fogeys here!

Is that Barden, as in Gary Barden??

No, that would be Peter Bardens.

I think TAC was correcting my poor spelling. Us old fogeys need all the help we can get.

MS394 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 18, 2009, 09:17:49 PM »

Camel is indeed a great band IMO. I absolutely love Mirage, Snow Goose, but particularly Moonmadness (Chord Changes and Song Within a Song are just too great imo). I personally haven´t checked out their more recent albums (A nod and a wink, Rajaz, etc.) but it seems it´s very good stuff.

reneranucci · « **Reply #17 on:** May 18, 2009, 09:42:19 PM »

No post.

KevShmev · « **Reply #18 on:** May 18, 2009, 11:04:02 PM »

Quote from: reneranucci on May 16, 2009, 07:54:16 AM

I love their style, the playing is very delicate so you don't feel overwhelmed with the musicianship all the time but you can still appreciate the complexity of what they're playing.

Very well-said!

Quote from: James007 on May 17, 2009, 08:14:23 PM

I saw Camel in 1973 and was hooked.

I am jealous.

bundy · « **Reply #19 on:** May 20, 2009, 09:16:34 PM »

Camel are great! I love the early albums. Also really enjoy the first couple of albums with David Sinclair and Mel Collins. I have five albums and intend getting quite a few more. Already have Moonmadness, Snowgoose, Mirage, Raindances and Breathless. Next on the list: Camel and Nude.

TAC · « **Reply #20 on:** May 21, 2009, 05:56:20 AM »

Quote from: James007 on May 18, 2009, 08:41:57 PM

Quote from: LudwigVan on May 18, 2009, 10:44:14 AM
Quote from: TAC on May 18, 2009, 04:44:00 AM
Quote from: James007 on May 17, 2009, 08:14:23 PM
I saw Camel in 1973 and was hooked. I have all their albums and all the Barden albums too. There's genius in the stack.
SAW them in 1973?? Wow you might be the oldest of the Old Fogeys here!

Is that Barden, as in Gary Barden??

No, that would be Peter Bardens.
I think TAC was correcting my poor spelling. Us old fogeys need all the help we can get.

No I was having Michael Schenker hopeful moment.

James007 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 21, 2009, 06:00:40 AM »

Quote from: TAC on May 21, 2009, 05:56:20 AM

Quote from: James007 on May 18, 2009, 08:41:57 PM
Quote from: LudwigVan on May 18, 2009, 10:44:14 AM
Quote from: TAC on May 18, 2009, 04:44:00 AM
Quote from: James007 on May 17, 2009, 08:14:23 PM
I saw Camel in 1973 and was hooked. I have all their albums and all the Barden albums too. There's genius in the stack.
SAW them in 1973?? Wow you might be the oldest of the Old Fogeys here!

Is that Barden, as in Gary Barden??

No, that would be Peter Bardens.
I think TAC was correcting my poor spelling. Us old fogeys need all the help we can get.

No I was having Michael Schenker hopeful moment.

LudwigVan · « **Reply #22 on:** May 22, 2009, 07:30:38 AM »

I just listened to Moonmadness again last night, and I must say that this music has more in common with jazz fusion than it actually does with Prog rock IMO.

LudwigVan · « **Reply #23 on:** May 25, 2009, 11:02:55 AM »

Late last night, I took my boom box out to the backyard deck and played The Snow Goose. It felt like Andy Latimer's guitar lines were reaching for the stars... t'was beautiful.

TAC · « **Reply #24 on:** May 25, 2009, 11:23:56 AM »

Quote from: LudwigVan on May 25, 2009, 11:02:55 AM

Late last night, I took my boom box out to the backyard deck and played ......

Let me guess..8 track or cassette??

LudwigVan · « **Reply #25 on:** May 26, 2009, 09:21:20 AM »

Quote from: TAC on May 25, 2009, 11:23:56 AM

Quote from: LudwigVan on May 25, 2009, 11:02:55 AM
Late last night, I took my boom box out to the backyard deck and played ......

Let me guess..8 track or cassette??

CD boom-box baby! I did it again yesterday, only this time I played Camel's s/t debut album, which has a distinct Santana-like vibe to it.

KevShmev · « **Reply #26 on:** February 22, 2010, 12:38:15 AM »

This band...so good.

NP: "Earthrise"

Quadrochosis · « **Reply #27 on:** February 22, 2010, 09:10:19 AM »

I like "Never Let Go"

I also like "Benighted" by Opeth

Ultimetalhead · « **Reply #28 on:** March 25, 2010, 03:14:29 PM »

Bump.

Where do I start with these guys?

KevShmev · « **Reply #29 on:** March 27, 2010, 11:34:00 PM »

Quote from: Ultimetalhead on March 25, 2010, 03:14:29 PM

Bump.

Where do I start with these guys?

Mirage and/or Moonmadness. The Snow Goose would be a good choice, too.

cthrubuoy · « **Reply #30 on:** March 30, 2010, 07:06:24 AM »

I'll second the Snow Goose.

Fluffy Lothario · « **Reply #31 on:** March 30, 2010, 07:46:12 AM »

I could never get beyond plain liking the Snow Goose. It's something different, but it's seems too... willowy, or something.

I checked out a few tracks off of Mirage and Moonmadness though, and they were all real good, so someday, I'll have to delve more.

LudwigVan · « **Reply #32 on:** March 30, 2010, 07:43:49 PM »

Quote from: Fluffy Lothario on March 30, 2010, 07:46:12 AM

I could never get beyond plain liking the Snow Goose. It's something different, but it's seems too... willowy, or something.

I checked out a few tracks off of Mirage and Moonmadness though, and they were all real good, so someday, I'll have to delve more.

'Willowy' is actually a pretty good description of Camel. There's nothing really hard or heavy about this band, which means I really have to be in the right mood for it.

Ultimetalhead · « **Reply #33 on:** March 30, 2010, 07:49:56 PM »

I listened to Mirage. Meh, it's alright, I guess. I could see it growing on me...maybe.

Mladen · « **Reply #34 on:** April 01, 2010, 04:56:16 AM »

Quote from: Ultimetalhead on March 25, 2010, 03:14:29 PM

Bump.

Where do I start with these guys?

Start with the debut, and continue chronologically.

News: Track-by-track video for Fall Into the Light: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ezfzdMpRc0

Author Topic: Camel (Read 23116 times)