AT WILD END

To love this album you must be in the right mood. Not too dark, it could be depressing, but not too happy because the sensations that it gives to the listener are mainly sadnhess and melancholy. It's a good thing. If music can give sensations the artist has hit the target. The sadness starts with the first track which is dedicated to Guy LeBlanc, former Nathan Mahl and partner of Colin Bass in Camel, who recently passed away. This song sets the mood, then what follows is a stripe of good songs, well composed, played and arranged. The only problem is that all of them are almost slow and sad. The rare rhythmic parts are lead by the bass more than by the drums. If you are in the right mood this is not a problem, but surely you can't play this album in a party, and this is sure not in Colin's intentions. Not being too catchy even if usually very melodic, the songs require attention to be fully appreciated. The listener will be rewarded by the closing track which is also the title track. There was no other place for this song than the album's closure. It's perfect and is the bigger hihglight of the album. It's also where there's a bit more rhythm and it's the song that leaves you with the wish of listening to it once more when it ends. Globally it doesn't reach the level of "An Outcast Of The Islands". It's a good album which deserves the three stars that I'm giving it and I could decide to increase this rating in the future (I've done the same with the mentioned "Outcast"). Of course, the presence of some Andy Latimer makes it a must for Camel fans. It's half of the current band.Colin is in these times the only fixed element of the band other than Andy. and this is perceivable even if all the compositions are by Colin. Three stars by now, but I could change idea.