Review Summary: One of Camel best works. It represents the end of their golden era.
“Moonmadness” is the fourth studio album of Camel and was released in 1976. The line up on the album is Andrew Latimer, Peter Bardens, Doug Ferguson and Andy Ward.
Camel never achieved the mass popularity of many other fellow British progressive rock bands, such as Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd and Emerson, Lake & Palmer, but they cultivated a dedicated cult following. Over the course of their career, Camel experienced numerous changes, but throughout the years, Andrew Latimer remained the leader of the band.
Formed in 1972 in Surrey, Camel originally consisted of Andrew Latimer, Andy Ward, Doug Ferguson and Peter Bardens, previously of Them. By the end of 1973, the band released their eponymous debut album. In 1974, they released their second album “Mirage”. In 1975, Camel released their third and breakthrough album “The Snow Goose”, which climbed into the British Top. The band’s British audience declined with their fourth album, “Moonmadness”, in 1976, who was more successful in America, reaching the highest chart position the band ever attained in that country.
“Moonmadness” represents, for many, the highest point of the musical career of the group. It was the last album of Camel to feature their original line up. After “Moonmadness”, their bassist Ferguson left the group and Richard Sinclair, ex-Caravan, replaced him on their next fifth album “Rain Dances”, released in 1977. Mel Collins (saxophone and flute), increased the band to five members, for the subsequent tour, beginning an eight years association with the group as a band’s member. So, somehow, we can say that “Moonmadeness” became a landmark to Camel, in many ways. It’s usually considered that with “Moonmadness” ends what is in general so-called the golden musical era of the group.
Camel returned to vocals again on “Moonmadness”. Just like “The Snow Goose” it was one of their very best ones, demonstrating the distinctive Camel’s sound and their strongly melodic symphonic progressive rock at its absolutely best. Abandoning the lovely soundscapes of “The Snow Goose”, Camel delved into layered guitar and synthesizers on the impressive “Moonmadness”. The music on “Moonmadness” is more akin to the traditional English progressive rock, even though it does occasionally dip into jazz-fusion territory with syncopated rhythms and shimmering keyboards. Furthermore, the songs are perhaps a little bit more concise and accessible than those of its predecessor.
“Moonmadness” is indeed a conceptual album, based loosely on the personalities of each member. “Chord Change” is Bardens, “Another Night” is Ferguson, “Air Born” is Latimer and “Lunar Sea” is Ward. Certainly, it’s a concept that is considerably less defined than that of “The Snow Goose”, but the music is also quite as challenging and rewarding.
“Aristillus” is an instrumental atmospheric piece, very melodic and dominated by keyboards. It represents an excellent mood to the rest of the album. “Song Within A Song” is a calm, beautiful and melancholic song which contrasts with the deepest voice of Ferguson. It has a nice and relaxing guitar and flute works. “Chord Change” is an instrumental that explores Latimer’s guitar fills and Bardens’ keyboard work. It has some jazzy touchs. “Spirit Of The Water” is an atmospheric pretty ballad built around piano and synthesizer complemented by a distant vocal singing that adds a special feel to it. “Another Night” is the most aggressive rock track on the album with great riffs and a strong Latimer’s vocal work, but it keeps the usual, special and unique Camel’s charm. “Air Born” is one of the most memorable songs of the band. It begins with flute and piano, in a classic style, and suddenly explodes with all instruments and Latimer’s voice. This is an excellent and very well developed song. “Lunar Sea” is another instrumental and represents one of the best tracks on the album. It has great performances by all band’s members. The melody changes and evolves all over the theme. It reminds me something spatial, as its name suggests. This is an excellent closing to the album, indeed.
Conclusion: After their more experimental and audacious work, their previous studio album “The Snow Goose”, the music on “Moonmadness” is something between spatial and symphonic rock. It has a very homogeneous musical quality with a dreamy space ambient and a very peaceful musical atmosphere. “Moonmadness” is a must have for any and every progressive rock fan’s collection. It’s one of those solid, magical albums that includes everything that made 70’s progressive music so effing incredible. After all these years, it remains an album very fresh, cool and nothing dated. It grows more and more each time you listen to it. I love it when a line up’s swan song ends up being the biggest and the best, a final passionate hurrah from extremely talented musicians that unfortunately who would never again record an album together. So, I recommend it to everyone who likes melodic progressive rock music. It’s especially recommended to symphonic and psychedelic/space rock fans, particularly to Pink Floyd’s fans. This is prog at its best.
Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)
