PRESSURE POINTS

Camel

Symphonic Prog

3.45 | 213 ratings

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friso
Prog Reviewer

Camel - Pressure points (1984) (live)

Now here we have a largely ignored live recording from Camel in the eighties. Andy Latimer is by this time already joined by Colin Bass (bass, vocals), who is still in the band today. On keyboards Ton Scherpenzeel of Kayak fame (Dutch melodic symphonic prog you should check out!). We also get to hear some sax-playing from Mel Collins (King Crimson, APP, Caravan, Camel, etc.)

I guess the reason for the low ratings for this live record it short runningtime, its eighties sound, the track listing and its lack to be as amazing as 'A Live Record', 'Coming of Age' and others. As a vinyl collector the record opens up the possibility to listen to a later era Camel with a sound that is actually little different from how the band would sound in the 21th century.

'Pressure Points' is a highligst, an adventerious instrumental with some furious guitar playing. The tracks from 'Nude' all sound brilliant, with the addition of the symphonic blues rock track 'Lies' being one of my favorite - it's guitar nirvana. I also like the light, yet progressive instrumental track 'Sasquatch'. On side two some poppier tracks from the 'Stationary Traveller' era don't live up to the rest of the material. Furthermore, the addition of 'Rhayadar' and 'Rhayadar goed to town' isn't that refreshing - though I must say the eighties have given these favored tracks a new vibe.

Conclusion. Camel is one of the greatest symphonic progressive rock bands and the fact remains that first side of this record is like really good and the second side isn't bad at all. Recommended to listeneres of vinyl, for others this record perhaps isn't among the first ten Camel records I would recommend to you. Three and halve for this one.

friso | 3/5 | 2014-8-22

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