THE SNOW GOOSE

Some may find it a little boring at some times (instrumental-only, so at first more difficult to transmit emotions, and maybe too soft to keep attention until the end for some people), but this album has so many unforgettable moments that it is truly a great addition to any prog collection ! The beginning is amazing, with a soft opener ("The great marsh") and a punchy nice tune played with a flute ("Rhayader"), then another fast-rhythmed section ("Rhayader goes to town") with a break in the middle. Then comes a slower part with "Sanctuary", "Fritha", "The snow goose" (a little too long, but beautiful) and "Friendship". The last one is funny (very evocative of a goose walking), and really brings back interest ! Things move a faster then with "Migration", the only "sung" part. Dynamic and soft at the same time, you will get the feeling to fly with the geese ! Another good moment. Then you get a reprise of the theme of "Rhayader" in a slow acoustic guitar version "Rhayader alone". The next part is important because it brings a theme you will hear near the end too, "Flight of the snow goose", again Camel have very well put images and movement in music ! Next three tracks go together and describe some battle. The middle part is the most violent of the album, but it remains quite soft ! You might like the coherence of the mood throughout the album, or you might dislike for it is boring. However the progression in the song "Dunkirk" is very well set. After a last acoustic ballad the beautiful theme of "Flight of the snow goose" comes back, but in an enhanced version, and what version ! The most beautiful part of the work in ly opinion, "La princesse perdue" is the highlight of the album and makes a beautiful ending with "The great marsh" reprise. In the begnning I said that the absence of lyrics made it difficult to bring emotions, but the greatest achievement of this album is to have built very evocative and emotional pieces without words !