MOONMADNESS

I am rating myself as a level 1 on Moonmadness. I have indications that I have heard 4 of the 7 tracks on this album before, but never the whole album in order. While I am no expert on the band, there are some Camel songs that I like quite well, especially Lady Fantasy from the earlier album Mirage. This is the first Camel album we have reached on the countdown, but there will be more to come! This album has a loose concept, with each member having a track meant to reflect his personality.

Track 1 - Aristillus

We begin with upbeat keyboards. This is a short instrumental intro to the album.

Track 2 - A Song Within a Song

(One of the tracks I have heard before)

This one begins with mellow, slower tempo keyboards and subtle rhythm section contributions. A flute solo joins in. The first verse begins with harmony vocals. Apparently, Latimer's vocals have been criticized in the past, but I find them to be a pleasant if unremarkable baritone. Another flute solo happens, followed by the second verse. The dynamic level increases at around 3:10, and the guitar becomes more prominent. The meter begins to alternate between 4-4 and 7-8. Then the tempo increases to a quick 6-8 for the keyboard solo. Another time change happens at around 5:50 to an up-tempo 4-4 as the keyboard retains the prominent role. Excellent track.

Track 3 - Chord Change

This song is the one meant to represent keyboardist Peter Bardens. I have heard this one before. We start with a quick 7-8 riff on guitar, which is played in harmony the second time around in a manner reminiscent of the Allman Brothers. The timing changes around 48 seconds into the song. Bardens and Latimer (Guitar) are playing impressive melodies in harmony. The tempo slows at around the 2-minute mark and the music becomes more relaxed, in almost a Pink Floyd sort of way. Bardens takes over with an Organ solo just before the 4-minute mark. He switches to synth at around 5 minutes. We get a return to the quick tempos and Latimer takes over on guitar. The song fades out as Latimer repeats a melodic phrase on the guitar.

Track 4 - Spirit of the Water

We start with piano arpeggios and Flute (also Latimer) There are vocals (apparently sung by Bardens) but they are "distant" and have effects. This is just a brief track that closed-out side 1 of the original LP.

Track 5 - Another Night

This one is to represent bassist Doug Ferguson. This one fades in with a riff played in harmony on guitar & keys, much in the same way that the previously mentioned Lady Fantasy does. The rhythm section joins in at around 40 seconds. Then the first verse begins in odd shifting meters. This song has a slightly "rockier" edge to it. We have an odd meter instrumental break at around 3 minutes. Excellent playing by the 4 band members. The next verse begins around 5 minutes in, followed by an organ solo. After a transitional section, there is a guitar solo before the song fades out. Good track!

Track 6 - Air Born

This one represents Andrew Latimer (Guitar/Flute/Vocals). I have heard this one before. We start with a flute solo accompanied by gentle piano. The band kicks in at around 0:45, at a moderately slow tempo, with Latimer switching to guitar. His vocals come in with effects similar to those used earlier by Bardens. The flute takes back over after a verse, accompanied by guitar (the magic of overdubs). Then guitar and electric piano come to the forefront. Wind sound effects join in. Another verse comes in with mellotrons, giving it a bit of a Moody Blues feel. This continues into the grand instrumental close of the song. Nice track.

Track 7 - Lunar Sea

This one is representing Drummer Andy West. (I've heard this one as well.) At over 9 minutes, it's the longest track on the album. It begins with a synth intro. At around 1:15 a rhythm emerges in an odd meter. Latimer plays a melodic guitar solo over the top. The rhythm section is playing a complex rhythm underneath. Well-done. We switch to a mid-tempo 4-4 at around 2:45, and Bardens takes over with a synth solo. The previous odd-meter (in 5- 8, I believe) rhythm takes back over at around 5:15, and Latimer plays a more improvisational type of guitar solo. The drums lock in with some of his licks. Very tight playing. We go to 7-8 around 7:15. I think this is my favorite track. We start fading out and synth chords take over. Sound effects (sort of wind gusts) conclude the track and thus the album.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:

A very strong album indeed. Great playing throughout and interesting compositions. As previously mentioned, I liked Lunar Sea the best, but there were no bad tracks. I am giving this a 4.25 out of 5 stars.

Clicked 4, but really 4.25.

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