RAIN DANCES

3.6/5.0 Let's be clear about this one: Camel is on the decline. With albums like "Mirage", "The Snow Goose" and "Moonmadness" they really established themselves as masters of prog music, with a sound of their own, imaginative, with lot of great keyboards and counter-tempi. "Rain Dances" is still a good album, but even with Sinclair coming to the band (which adds a very interesting jazzy touch) it is not enough to mask the lack of imagination that seems to have taken place in the band.

Of course, this is not only about a lack of imagination. That would not be that bad; some bands have less than no imagination and still are very high in the ratings (Dream Theater not to name it). The main problem is a lack of imagination plus a typical 80s sound. In 1973, I think one could say that Camel been a precursor should be a good thing. But who wants to be, in 1997, a precursor of the pitiful decade that is to begin three years later? Let's be honest: the sound on this one sounds too much like any album of the 80s. Too much, simply. They great keyboards that were are replaced by simply bad sounding keyboards. Well, it is a minor annoyance, but still an annoyance.

Then, why do I give close to 4 stars to this album? Well... Because it is good! At some point even Camel with a lack of imagination is still better than many groups. The sonority is not that good, but some songs are really catchy, Skylines on the top of them. The rest of the album goes up and down, with great moments (Highways in the Sun) and less great moments (Tell me). Overall, this album is worth a listening, especially if you are a Camel fan. But certainly not as good as the albums before. Nothing to refute the old funny 'thesis' saying that music achieved its peak in 1976! 3.6/5.0