MOONMADNESS

I am very tempted to give this album 5 stars. But for some reason it just doesn't strike me as quite hitting masterpiece status. Maybe it's because Song Within A Song and Chord Change just seem a bit weak to me? Maybe the superfluous (if unique) Aristilus seems like a less than ideal way to start the album? Maybe the vocals are not quite strong enough yet? I'm not really sure, but I still will say this is a great album, one of Camels best.

Despite my comment on the vocals, I think they are the best on a Camel album up to this point, but would improve more on later albums. Latimer sounds like a dead ringer for Dave Gilmore on Another Night, and Bardens does a suitably haunting vocal on Spirit of the Water. Overall, nothing really to complain about, other than the usual softness of the delivery.

And the music is generally fantastic. The opener is, as I said, a bit of an odd way to start the album, but is not bad and is short. Song Within A Song is just that, two fairly different songs hooked together quite seamlessly with the first part being mellow and the second part more driving with some great guitar playing. Spirit is a beautiful short piece by Bardens that has a great haunting quality about it. Another Night seems to get slagged here for some reason but I think it is one of Camel's all time best songs. The proggy, odd meter middle section is outstanding and fairly different for Camel. Air Born is a beautiful song with great flute from Latimer and a lovely melody and vocal. Lunar Sea is without doubt the best Camel instrumental ever, and Latimer's solo is excellent.

So, overall, one of my favorite Camel albums. It doesn't quite hit masterpiece status for reasons I mention above. But it is a definite 4.5 star album, rounded down to 4 for the archives.

Share this CAMEL review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to infandous
• Report this review (#115950)
• Buy CAMEL music online with PA partners
• Show all CAMEL MP3/Stream
• Go to CAMEL page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Moonmadness page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for CAMEL related discussions