THE SNOW GOOSE

This is Camel's third album that follows their breakthrough second album, Mirage. It is based on the Novella by Paul Gallico. It was initially intended to have lyrics based on the story, but they had to be dropped for copyright reasons. So here we have a fully instrumental album. I will say I'm somewhere between level 1 and 2 on this one as I have heard several of the tracks before, but never the whole thing from start to finish. Also worth noting is that this review is based on the original album from 1975, not the 2013 re-recording.

Track 1 - The Great Marsh

We have a slow fade in of bird sounds, joined by electric piano with delay. There are some wordless vocal "ahhs" and a few guitar fills. By 1:30 we have a lush, orchestrated theme to take us to?

Track 2 - Rhayader

I am very familiar with this track as it was one of the first Camel tunes that I got to know. This is primarily a flute solo played by Andy Latimer over a jazzy groove. By around 1:30, though, we set up to have a keyboard solo by Peter Bardens. The arpeggio lick he plays at around 2:20 is a bit of a signature of his. The main theme returns following the solo and we wind down to a close.

Track 3 - Rhayader Goes to Town

This one begins with a fast triplet synth arpeggio riff with accents from the band. As the track proceeds, we have a fast shuffle beat with harmonized guitar lines on top. The beat changes at 1:10 and becomes whimsical at first, then slows down for a sad bit. These different feels alternate for a bit, before we have a slow groove for Latimer to take a slow bluesy guitar solo over. At around 4:30 I am reminded of one of the themes from Lady Fantasy on Mirage. Following that the whimsical bit closes the track.

Track 4 - Sanctuary

This is one of the shortest tracks on the album at just over one minute. Classical guitar fades in joined by clean electric guitar over the top of it. The track is winding down by the time I typed these few lines.

Track 5 - Fritha

Another very short track, at 1:19. This one fades in with some feedback on the top. Acoustic guitar and organ take the spotlight here with a slow delicate tune.

Track 6 - The Snow Goose

A bit longer at a little over 3 minutes. After an introduction, Latimer plays a solo that will become a recurring melody on the album. It is in a slow tempo here. The band provides a nice accompaniment.

Track 7 - Friendship

This sounds like a woodwind arrangement one might hear on Prokofiev's Peter & the Wolf. Another brief section.

Track 8 - Migration

A drum roll brings us in with wordless vocals taking the lead over a jazzy groove and wah-wah electric piano.

Track 9 - Rhayader Alone

The theme from earlier is back in a slow melancholy way.

Track 10 - Flight of the Snow Goose

This is a familiar track to me. Synth fades in and we build up to a sweeping melody. Doug Ferguson has a nice bass line here while Latimer & Bardens play the melody in harmony.

Track 11 - Preparation

A 5-8 guitar pattern forms the basis over which a flute takes the melody. Then we go to 5-4 There are some wordless vocals again over the repeating riff.

Track 12 - Dunkirk

This has more rhythm than the previous track. Doug Ferguson & Andy Ward keep a simple but steady tempo and Latimer solos in a melodic manner over the top on guitar. There is a cool little turn-around between certain phrases, which keeps it a bit more interesting. The feel changes at around 3:30. The tempo gets much faster, and things get more exciting. There are some cool drum fills with effects on them along the way. The ending of the track gives major ELP vibes.

Track 13 - Epitaph

Ominous church bells bring us in along with some cool synth sounds. Then it fades back out after a minute or so.

Track 14 - Fritha Alone

Mellow piano arpeggios start this part off. Bardens plays a little melody on top on the piano.

Track 15 - La Princesse Perdue

Another familiar one to me. Very similar to Rhayader. They expand a bit on the melodies here. Wonderful orchestration with the guitar solo at 2:20.

Track 16 - The Great Marsh (Reprise)

Sound effects and a bit of electric piano fade in and out.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS:

I had heard enough of the individual tracks to get an idea of what to expect, and there were very few surprises. I know many call this Camel's masterpiece, but I still prefer Mirage. The album is enjoyable, but not very exciting to me. I'll give it a 4 out of 5 stars.

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