Camel captured live on the cusp of greater success, and playing with an enthralling musical inventiveness.
A BAND AT AN INTERESTING JUNCTURE
Earthrise is a two CD set, featuring a live recording of the progressive rock band Camel, from a concert at The Marquee Club in London on 30th October 1974. The band were at an interesting juncture in their development. They had released two strong albums that set out their musical credentials, in the self titled Camel and Mirage. Camel exhibited a flair for extended compositions, particularly on the Mirage album, that showcased the talents of Peter Bardens on keyboards and Andrew Latimer on guitar and flute, alongside a powerful and wonderfully creative rhythm section, comprising Doug Ferguson on bass and Andy Ward on drums.
On the cusp of a United States tour supporting Wishbone Ash and already previewing live some compositions from what would be perhaps their most iconic album, Music Inspired By The Snow Goose, this was a band proceeding to the next level musically and in terms of audience reach.
This recording seems to have been previously only available in physical form, via the now hard to find Air Born box set, so it is a real bonus to have it now available in a two CD format.
DISC ONE
Earthrise, from the Mirage album, opens the set accompanied by a very enthusiastic audience. The tight precision of the ensemble playing is very impressive, and the guitar and organ solos full of melody and pace. Peter Bardens’ synthesiser motifs are beautifully judged, enhancing and broadening out the band’s soundstage.
The White Rider, from the same album, is an extended three-part musical suite. Here the band really begin to stretch out instrumentally. The synthesiser solo has an organic feel with some lovely melodic phrasing. Sometimes the synthesiser can sound a bit dispassionate, but in Bardens’ hands it has a warmth and depth. Andy Ward’s drumming is hugely impressive here, full of subtle time keeping changes and a real lightness of touch.
A SHOWCASE FOR ANDREW LATIMER’S FLUTE WORK
Six Ate from the first album, has one of those trademark Camel funk like sections. Over which Peter Bardens’ organ and Andrew Latimer’s guitar soar and delicately fly over the rhythm section’s infectious beats. It is very much a live highlight on CD one. Supertwister from the Mirage album on the other hand is a platform for Latimer’s fine flute work, often a signature element in Camel compositions, and very nicely highlighted here.
Jumping forward to the final track on the first CD, we encounter Ligging at Louis’, a Peter Bardens composition, never recorded in the studio by the band. It is a simply superb live performance of a strikingly good composition. The way the keyboards and guitar work together in an empathic exchange of musical ideas, and the dynamic movement through shifts of pace and tone, is an absolute joy to listen too.
DISC TWO
Disc two kicks off with a preview, of the then forthcoming album, Music Inspired By The Snow Goose. We get three songs: Rhayader Goes To Town, Sanctuary, and The Snow Goose, in early live renditions. The band’s enthusiasm for the new material comes across in the committed playing that adds a raw passion to these live versions, while not losing any of their pastoral beauty.
Freefall, from the Mirage album, in contrast is a bit of a full-on rock song. A little more unusual in the band’s repertoire, but crackling with energy. The band sound to be having fun playing it, and Andy Ward’s cymbal embellishments are completely engaging.
MUSICIANS AT THE PEAK OF THEIR PLAYING POWERS
Lady Fantasy, from the same album, is of course a fan favourite, and continued to be played by subsequent line ups of the band. It is a complex sequence of musical movements, each with its own thematic strand, yet with an overall coherence that holds the listener’s attention. Peter Bardens’ organ solo and Andrew Latimer’s guitar solo, in one of the early sequences, show both these musicians at the peak of their playing powers. The emotional ebb and flow and liquid luminescence of their playing is mesmerising.
The live recording concludes with Peter Bardens’ composition, Homage To The God Of Light, from his 1970 solo album The Answer. Again, it was never recorded in the studio by Camel, and it is here in all its near nineteen-minute glory. If you close your eyes on some of the sections, you can almost imagine it is the legendary Santana on stage. The musicianship and feel of the music is that good. This is the band completely free and letting go with the most exhilarating of musical results, including a strong hint of psychedelia. It is truly an ensemble piece where all the players are in complete sympathy with each other. Doug Ferguson on bass does the most marvellous job of anchoring the wilder elements in the piece. The audience reaction is of course massively appreciative.
AN EXCELLENT LIVE REPRESENTATION
Earthrise is an excellent live representation of Camel on the verge of bigger things, showcasing their first two albums. Including as it also does, early live versions of some of the tracks from Music Inspired By The Snow Goose, and two Bardens compositions that the band never recorded on a studio album, it is a value plus release. The live playing of the band is captivating, not just in each of the individual contributions, but also in their authoritative and precision infused ensemble playing. The quality of the recording, and the remix by Stephen W Tayler, allows the live magic of Camel to be fully captured on these discs.
Camel: Website