There are 5 tracks on Mirage, 2 over nine minutes. Those 2 are multi-part songs: "Lady Fantasy" in addition to "Nimrodel/The Procession/The White Rider", the latter beingness close The Lord of the Rings. The album was released on Gama Records/Deram Records.
The album was voted no. 51 inwards the Top 100 Prog albums of All Time yesteryear readers of 'Prog' periodical inwards 2014.
With their 2nd album, Mirage, Camel start out to prepare their ain distinctive sound, highlighted yesteryear the group's liquid, intricate rhythms in addition to the wonderful, unpredictable instrumental exchanges yesteryear keyboardist Pete Bardens in addition to guitarist Andy Latimer. Camel also distinguish themselves from their prog stone peers alongside the multi-part suite "Lady Fantasy," which suggests the to a greater extent than complex directions they would receive got a few albums downward the line. Also, Latimer's graceful flute playing distinguishes several songs on the record, including "Supertwister," in addition to it's clear that he has a to a greater extent than supple technique than such contemporaries every bit Ian Anderson. Camel are even then ironing out some quirks inwards their audio on Mirage, but it's evident that they are coming into their own.
The classic Camel lineup occupied a unique niche inwards progressive rock, specializing inwards fluid, spacey ensemble workouts – rarely every bit flashy every bit Genesis, never every bit bombastic every bit Emerson Lake in addition to Palmer. "We're considered a progressive band, yesteryear default, really," guitarist-flautist Andy Latimer told Will Romano for his 2010 majority Mountains Come Out of the Sky: The Illustrated History of Prog Rock. "I ever idea that people similar Yes in addition to King Crimson in addition to ELP were much to a greater extent than obscure than Camel. They were likely amend players in addition to consequently got into much to a greater extent than complicated material, which made it even. . . less accessible." The quartet's 2nd album, Mirage, fulfills their debut’s scattered promise, alongside Latimer in addition to keyboardist Pete Bardens leading the beat department through breezy instrumentals (the contemplative "Supertwister") in addition to expansive multi-part suites (the Lord of the Rings–themed "Nimrodel/The Procession/The White Rider").
Mirage is such a wonderful album from Camel, a band who was coming of historic current every bit a to a greater extent than "undergound" progressive stone band (not that prog was radio-ready) on their 2nd release. Camel excels hither alongside a tight diverseness of compositions, in addition to you lot tin come across then much potential coming off this album that their debut entirely showed then much of. Even the vocals, though never the highlight of the band, are to a greater extent than accentuated in addition to non every bit weak this fourth dimension around. From the beginning, "Freefall" displays a to a greater extent than challenging direction, peculiarly inwards the middle break. Again, Peter Bardens' keyboards in addition to Andrew Latimer's guitars play off 1 some other then well, in addition to I advert Bardens' Pb vocal every bit the firstly prove of my example higher upwardly close stronger singing, fifty-fifty if neither he nor Latimer are powerful singers. "Supertwister" introduces us to Latimer's flute playing, in addition to Doug Ferguson has a dainty thick bass part to move along alongside this beautiful interlude-style number. I peculiarly similar "Nimrodel," Camel's firstly travail at truthful extended storytelling, alongside frequent fourth dimension changes in addition to musical soundscapes, ending alongside a guitar solo which sounds similar Latimer played this from a mount top. The firstly ever Latimer/Bardens collaboration (which would larn the cornerstone of the band) is "Earthrise," some other instrumental featuring Andy Ward doing some fantabulous speed drumming portions, but the keyboard/guitar telephone substitution continues to highlight. However, the major slice is the 13-minute "Lady Fantasy" suite, but dissimilar Music Inspired By The Snow Goose, at that spot were 2 lyrical sections, but the music provides that atmosphere, in addition to Latimer has some fantabulous guitar that people tin air out to, peculiarly close ix minutes in. If you lot receive got the remastered edition, the original mix of "Lady Fantasy" is fifty-fifty amend than the studio one, consummate alongside effects on the terminal guitar in addition to keyboard solos, in addition to Ward's drums audio slightly to a greater extent than live. Even if they weren't quite every bit regarded or famous every bit Yes, Genesis, or ELP, Camel preserves the progressive roots on this album, in addition to it's even then my favorite inwards their catalog. Remember that if you lot ain this album, it's essential to travail out Music Inspired By The Snow Goose in addition to Moonmadness to consummate Camel's prime number trilogy.
Funny affair close Camel. I started looking into them at a friend's proposition at the halt of lastly summer. Then 1 solar daytime I was listening to a medley from THE SNOW GOOSE on YouTube in addition to my mum walks upwardly behind me in addition to says, "Who is that?" I tell her it's Camel. "Oh my God, I haven't heard them inwards ages!" Turns out Camel were 1 of her favourite bands dorsum inwards the 70s. She had 4 of their LPs on vinyl: MIRAGE, THE SNOW GOOSE, BREATHLESS, in addition to RAIN DANCES - the real 4 I had decided I needed to larn myself, coincidentally enough. Since she had never gotten closed to to upgrading her Camel albums to CD, I had never heard whatever of it before, but I ended upwardly discovering it on my ain anyway.
And I'm glad I did too. MIRAGE was the firstly disc I sought out, in addition to I know of real few albums that conjure a to a greater extent than distinct, cohesive atmosphere than the dream-like mist that pervades this one. H5N1 bracing "Freefall" opens the set, a vocal whose multiple fourth dimension in addition to dynamic changes house the album squarely inwards the prog military camp correct from the get-go. Next comes the soporific instrumental "Supertwister", a showcase for Andy Latimer's flute playing, which acts every bit a fragile counterpart to the "dirtier" stylings of, say, Jethro Tull's Ian Anderson. Most of MIRAGE is instrumental actually - the lyrics are few in addition to far between, in addition to delivered inwards a sleepy croon that entirely contributes to the hazy soundscape suggested yesteryear the encompass artwork.
Side I of the original vinyl concludes alongside what may live my favourite unmarried entry (not counting THE SNOW GOOSE) inwards the Camel canon, the Tolkien-inspired "White Rider" suite. H5N1 musical impression of Gandalf the Grey's triumphant rebirth every bit Gandalf the White, the melody incorporates ambient keyboard passages, martial rhythms, galloping instrumentals, in addition to ethereal woodwinds to evoke a truthful vision of Middle-earth. Seldom receive got I heard a amend slice of progressive rock.
Side II features some other instrumental, "Earthrise", that continues inwards the mold established yesteryear Side I in addition to gives the musicians a run a jeopardy to strut their stuff - Andy Latimer's directly recognizable guitar licks (shades of Dave Gilmour) in addition to Pete Bardens' elegant keyboards peculiarly stand upwardly out. And lastly but non to the lowest degree comes the other candidate for my unmarried favourite Camel song, the twelve-minute "Lady Fantasy" suite. Opening alongside a suitably bombastic boom of keyboards in addition to drum fills, "Lady Fantasy" calls to heed the Doors inwards its organ-tinged verses in addition to progresses through 3 movements in addition to a skillful half-dozen major themes, alternating some of the softest, dreamiest moments on the album alongside some of the loudest in addition to most intense. Another masterpiece.
Camel were never real popular, which is a damn shame, because they deserve a much wider audience than merely progheads. If you'd similar to delve into their uniquely dreamy construct of musical magic, MIRAGE would live a nifty house to start.
Tracks Listing
1. Freefall (5:47)
2. Supertwister (3:20)
3. Nimrodel / The Procession / The White Rider (9:12)
4. Earthrise (6:42)
5. Lady Fantasy (12:46)
- a. Encounter
- b. Smiles For You
- c. Lady Fantasy
Total Time: 37:47
Line-up / Musicians
- Peter Bardens / organ, piano, celesta, Minimoog, Mellotron, vocals
- Andrew Latimer / vocals, guitars, flute
- Doug Ferguson / bass, vocals
- Andy Ward / drums
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