MIRAGE

Writing this review and subsequent I must confess my fear for rating bands and albums that were the foundation of progressive rock and the construction of genre even before I was born. To the true genre experts offer my apologies and I will try to give my point of view objective and constructive about the masterpieces that I'll comment.

About Mirage, I agree with the majority that is an essential album in the history of progressive rock. The instrumental passages are a demonstration of balance and it's like a bridge between Canterbury Scene and Symphonic Prog; only a band like Camel was able to establish.

I think Camel obtained their musical perfection through The Snow Goose (my favorite album) and I found a reason for that: The Camel's instrumental passages allowed me to discover what we all seek in progressive rock, musical eloquence and complex fluidity that allows see this genre as true art.

My intention is not to discredit the voice of Andrew Latimer or downplay his role as singer of Camel, but I sometimes creates distraction with his voice wich extracted me from the atmosphere generated by the good instrumental balance, created by the members including himself with his flute.

In Mirage, Latimer's voice was important as a complement to some passages as Nimrodel / The Procession / The White Rider, but not essential for the publication of a good album of progressive rock; it was be demonstrated 1 year later by The Snow Goose.

My favorite: Lady Fantasy and Earthrise has all the necessary elements to be considered a good example of progressive rock: dramatic changes in tempo, instrumental "dialogues" interesting that require high quality performance by Peter Bardens, Andy Ward and Andrew Latimer on guitars. About Doug Ferguson, bass has a noticeable level even essential for the development of some passages: 5 stars because of the prominence that Ferguson prints to an instrument that only a few years ago was to accompany and support.

My verdict: 4 stars because although Mirage has all the essential elements to be considered a masterpirce in the history of progressive rock, Camel showed a year later through The Snow Goose, that their level could be overcome through a conceptual proposal, ambitious and well developed only in an instrumental way.

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