Camel - Rain Dances

Year of Release: 1991
Label: Deram
Catalog Number: 820-725-2
Format: CD
Total Time: 42:34:00

What can be said about Camel that hasn't already been said? My initial thoughts upon listening to this[, 1977's Rain Dances] are - this would go over with the pop crowd, with the smooth jazz crowd, and the melodic prog crowd and that I can hear where Alan Parsons may gave gained an influence on his sound. Whether that latter observation is actually true or not, it sure seems so to me.

Anyone who is unfamiliar with Camel, the Parsons comparison is apt as a guidepost (there may be even a Parsons connection that I've overlooked).

Overall this is a very enjoyable album. The most immediately memorable song, and the most accessible, is "Highways Of The Sun". "One Of These Days I'll Get An Early Night" is the most jazzy track on the album, written by the entire band - Andrew Latimer (g/f/vox), Peter Bardens (k), Andy Ward (d/vibes/perc), Mel Collins (sax), and Richard Sinclair (b).

On the other hand, "Elke," a piece written by Latimer is atmospheric, a la Steve Roach, for example. Sinclair's bass work in "Skylines," oddly enough, made me think of Djam Karet (another band influenced by Camel?). The title track is a gentle wash of overlying keyboard signatures, one taking the role of percussion (without sounding drumlike).

If you like melodic music - progressive or otherwise - you will like Camel - at least this edition of Camel. Also recommended is my favourite (thus far), Nude.

Tracklisting:
First Light (5:01) / Metrognome (4:15) / Tell Me (4:06) / Highways Of The Sun (4:29) / Unevensong (5:33) / One Of These Days I'll Get An Early Night (4:50) / Elke (4:26) / Skylines (4:24) / Rain Dances (2:53) / Highways...Single Version (3:57)

Musicians:
Andrew Latimer - guitars, flute, and vocals
Peter Bardens - keyboards
Andy Ward - drums, vibes, and percusssion
Richard Sinclair - bass and vocals
Mel Collins - sax

Discography:
Camel (1973/2002)
Mirage (1974/2002)
The Snow Goose (1975/2002)
Moonmadness (1976/2002)
Rain Dances (1977)
A Live Record (1978/2002)
Breathless (1978)
I Can See Your House From Here (1979)
Nude (1981)
Chameleon - The Best Of Camel (1981)
The Single Factor (1982)
Stationary Traveller (1984)
Pressure Points - Live (1984)
Compact Compilition (1986)
Landscapes (1991, compilation)
Dust And Dreams (1991)
Echoes (1993, compilation)
On The Road '72 (1993)
On The Road '82 (1994)
Never Let Go (1994, live)
Harbour Of Tears (1996)
Camel (25th Anniversary Compilation) (1997)
Rajaz (1999)
Coming Of Age (1999)
The Paris Collection (2001)
Lunar Sea - An Anthology 1973-1985 (2001)
A Nod And A Wink (2002)
Rainbow's End - A Camel Anthology 1973-1985 (2010)
The Snow Goose (re-recorded) (2013)

Pressure Points - Live In Concert (DVD) (1984)
Coming Of Age (DVD) (1998)
Curriculum Vitae (DVD) (2003)
Camel Footage (DVD) (2004)
Camel Footage II (DVD) (2005)
Total Pressure - Live In Concert (DVD) (2007)
Moondances (DVD) (2007)
The Opening Farewell - Live At The Catalyst (DVD) (2010)
In From The Cold (DVD) (2014)
Ichigo Ichie - Live In Japan 2016 (DVD) (2017)

Genre: Progressive Rock

Origin UK

Added: July 25th 1999
Reviewer: Stephanie Sollow
Score:
Artist website: www.camelproductions.com
Hits: 3664
Language: english