I CAN SEE YOUR HOUSE FROM HERE

This is one of the most dismal prog years on record. It's dominated by the remnants of UK split, with Bruford releasing One of a Kind and UK releasing Danger Money. Both of these are excellent albums and should definitely be in anybody's collection. Both contain a mix of mellow jazz and rock, with Bruford on the jazzier side and UK on the rockier side.

The only album that really compares to them in quality is Steve Hackett's masterpiece, Spectral Mornings. Again, this is an album every prog fan should own, with some of Steve's best work showcased.

After that, two Zappa albums that demonstrate his transition into the next decade. Sheik Yerbouti and the first part of Joe's Garage are also worthy additions to your collection from 1979.

After that, what is there? Stormwatch by Jethro Tull? The Steve Howe Album? Monolith by Kansas? Discovery by ELO? In Through the Out Door by Led Zeppelin?

Well, I'm here to tell you that I Can See Your House From Here beats all of those (although it's a close race with the underrated Led Zeppelin release.)

Sure Camel has turned poppier. In this they are ahead of their time, beating out Genesis's Duke by a year. But as with Duke, Camel's new sound is mostly acceptable to us prog fans. There are some great prog moments here, and the pop moments aren't that bad either.

Other people have hit this tune by tune, but Ice and the first four tracks should make prog fans very happy, while the fifth and sixth tracks should prove at least acceptable. Heck, even Remote Romance is an acceptable track if you remember the times. (It reminds me of Patrick Moraz's work on Time Code.)

This is not as good as the classic three album sequence from Mirage through Moonmadness. It is just as good as Raindances and better than Breathless. It is a bit better than Nude.

This is really an album on the cusp. It falls somewhere between 3 and 4 stars. If you don't like your prog with a strong pop element, this is 3 stars. If you like your prog with a strong pop element, this is 4 stars. What the heck. I like my prog with a strong pop element. I'd listen to this over Moonmadness on a good day. 4 stars for a controversial but rewarding album.

Share this CAMEL review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to ghost_of_morphy
• Report this review (#199829)
• 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 I Can See Your House From Here page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for CAMEL related discussions