MOONMADNESS

A return to form, very nice!! Straying away from their previous instrumental release, Camel decided to go back to more conventional songwriting, and here we see that it paid off! Released in March of 1976, this was sadly the final release by the original band, with Doug Ferguson exiting in the early part of 1977, citing musical differences. Indeed, it became clear with the group's next release that things had changed drastically!

Back to this disc, if you are expecting another "Mirage" you will not get it here!! There is a much jazzier feel to some tracks than anything done previously, and the mood of the album was simply amazing!! Right from the intro "Aristillus", you know this disc is going to be something special, and as "Song Within A Song" comes to a close you're hooked. The beautiful "Spirit Of The Water" leads into two other wonderful tracks before finally ending at the album opus "Lunar Sea." What a great album!!!

Not only was this the end of the founding formation, but it also signalled the end of their trademark sound. Following this album the band went more in a mainstream direction and some of their prog leanings disappeared little by little. Don't get me wrong, there are moments by this band all through the late 70's and even in the 80's, 90's and today. "Moonmadness" was the end of an era and the beginning of another, and a great starting point for anyone wanting to get into the classic years of Camel!