NUDE

At times, "Nude" reminds me of "Duke" from Genesis although this one is an (almost) all- instrumental one. Maybe the cover in the Folon style (he was a famous Belgian painter). Maybe the general mood (rather boring, I must say). This is a return to a concept album for Camel. Still, they will try and include some pop elements in here.

The result is just average (boring most of the times, uninspired at others). With "Nude", Camel is telling us the story of a Japanese soldier lost on an island after WW2... Like with "Snow Goose", I can not really relate any story to this (almost) instrumental effort. Even if the "story" is published in the liner notes of the CD version.

"City Life" is a poppy and useless tune like they have produced in recent albums ("Breatless", "I Can See You..."). Some unnecessary transition tracks ("Nude", "Please Come Home" and "The Birthday Cake") although in most of concept albums such tracks sit there as well.

Some insipid ones ("Beached", "Changing Places", "Pomp and Circumstance", "Reflections", "Captured", "The Homecoming").

Some average ones ("Docks", "Landscaped", "Nude's Return"). And, yes : there are even two good songs on this album ("Drafted" and "Lies") ! But not a great moment like "Duke's Travels".

The recording of 'NUDE' and its tour would be devastating for Camel. In mid-1981, as he would tell 'Q' Magazine some ten years later, Andy Ward succumbed to alcohol and drug abuse and attempted suicide, unsuccessfully to the relief of all. But it rendered Ward unable to play drums in the foreseeable future. In shock, the band dissolved, the remainder of the tour was canceled and recording for the next album was postponed in the hope that Ward would recover...

Two stars.