CAMEL

Camel's debut album arrived in 1973. At this time, classic prog rock was at the height of it's popularity. I was in high school. And Yes, ELP, King Crimson and Genesis were the favorites of the music aware factions (yes - my school was enlightened). A friend introduced me to this album, and, I can admit now, I was not impressed. The lightness of the sound was not what my teenage sensibilities was looking for.

Four decades later my tastes have refined, and I am able to appreciate some of the artists I rejected in those days. And now I am revisiting this band that barely appeared on my radar back then.

In this debut, Camel sounded more like the prog of the late sixties, solo-heavy pieces with psychedelic subtexts, and a nod to the early fusion projects. To me, it could be described as a mixture of transitional Pink Floyd (pre-Meddle), a bit of Procol Harum, with some of the style of fusion of the Canterbury bands.

And now, while the album may not be as progressive as their peers, or even their own subsequent albums, I find this to be a joy to listen to. Primarily Peter Bardens' keyboards, primarily organ, electric piano and mono-chromatic synth, retro even in 1973, along with Andy Ward's tight drumming, drive the music along.

While I still would not rate this with the great albums of the seventies, it should not be overlooked.