The Camel Gone Dry?
Camel were a band of Brits who came together in 1972 and recorded 10 albums over 10 years under the eye of guitarist Andrew Latimer. Though they never achieved huge commercial success, they developed a cult that followed the band throughout their career, which began to dissolve as tastes changed in the early 1980′s. Since that time, Latimer, the only member who was a constant through its many personnel changes, has fled England for L.A. and started Camel Productions. Camel records since the early 90′s have largely been produced by Latimer and a cast of studio musicians.
When I discovered their eighth album, I Can See Your House From Here, sitting of the back-to-the-rack stack at the library, I wouldn’t have guessed Camel were, as most historians have categorized them, a prog rock band. I imagined something a little more down-and-dirty, more like Humble Pie that Human League.
Can’t say I agree with that genre tag: when I think of progressive rock, I think of Emerson, Lake and Palmer or Be-Bop Deluxe. When I listened to Camel, I pictured Rick Wakeman in a skinny tie. Or the Buggles without the charm (and the weird sunglasses). Or, maybe Be-Bop Deluxe, but without the weirdness of Bill Nelson (and the crazy look of that Japanese guy).
A cut and a half into my listening session, I began to wonder how they managed to survive to record 10 albums (on a major label, at that). I was desperately looking for some soul, for some sounds that didn’t come from an instrument with a power chord. I was encouraged when I thought I heard a saxophone on Cut 2 (Your Love Is Stranger Than Mine) but was disappointed to find out that it was a keyboard emulation (one I could distinguish with the noise of the road seeping through my car windows).
I was also disappointed to find that both Rupert Hine and Phil Collins were involved. Granted, Phil has melted-down into a sappy old guy full paens to love and flowers, but at the time I recall he was still an angry (and soon to be jilted) young man.
Of this record, AMG’s Matthew Plichta says: “Although not an honest representation of the band’s character, this is undoubtedly their most popular work”. That’s a double-edged sword, now isn’t it? They better before but not as popular.
I could be wrong about all this. There may be something of value here but I’m not getting it.
Here’s a random taste test. Let me know what you think.
