BREATHLESS

The pressure from the label for hit singles got even bigger and so did the rows between Andy Latimer and Peter Bardens. The album is more accessible, but to my ears it is an incredible cross between progressive music and "pop" stuff. The uplifting title-track (where the vocals are provided by Sinclair) is an indicator of the direction of the album, but hold your horses; Echoes is the first true gem of the album, a genuine masterpiece. More beautiful melodies and more great bass lines come in bounds on Wing and a Prayer (where Bardens sings for one and only time here on Breathless), as well as Down on the Farm. I get a folk vibe from Starlight Ride which suits me fine. Great woodwind lines and also Bardens provides superb piano background. Side B opens with an almost disco song. That's right, but one of Andy's best solo ever (and there are plenty of them) really takes Summer Lightning to another level. I'm still surprised why I like so much such poppy stuff. It's a unique piece of music but You Make Me Smile although is just as poppy it doesn't share the quality of the previous tracks and it is the only flaw on the album. The Sleeper which is the album's sole instrumental track restores things and will also please those who swear by the first four Camel albums. As a closer comes the album's most poignant moment. The rows between Latimer and Bardens had come to the crunch and the latter would leave the band. Many fans view Breathless as the last essential Camel album since it was the last collaboration between those two genius musicians. If you read the lyrics of Rainbow's End you might think it is about two lovers, but it is Andy's farewell to his mate. It sent chills down my spine when I first heard it and so it does after all these years. No, Breathless is an album I love deeply. Sublime stuff.