In all my music listening life I have been overwhelmed by a couple of bands and the moments when I discovered them. These were: listening to Wishbone Ash the first time, rediscovering the original progressive side of pre-Phil Collins-fronted Genesis, rediscovering Pre-Breakfast in America Supertramp and off late Canterbury based progressive rock band Camel.

What a joy and an honour to be writing about such a great band fronted and still lead by the talented Andrew Latimer, one of the original founders of Camel. It is interesting to note that the band, Peter Bardens’ On changed their name to Camel after a gig supporting the big band, the inspiration behind great-anonymous-albums.com, Wishbone Ash.

It’s a shame that such a great band must only be listened to by Camel’s cult following. Such a big shining star in the world of Progressive Rock Camel certainly needs more air play, listening and viewing. I have also become such an ardent fan of Andrew Latimer and I think he is one of the few guitarists out there who can reproduce the same guitar time and again on stage, that you heard inside the studio on the CD. I have watched him perform live on videos on YouTube and it is unbelievable how he can come up with such performances. His hallmark is his beautiful melancholy sound and his ear for melody and great tunes even shows up in the fast paced songs. The other musicians support him well on this album; Peter Bardens on keyboards, Doug Fergusson on bass and Andy Ward on drums.

Released in 1975, The Snow Goose was Camel’s third album. Mostly instrumental this is one of those beautiful prog-rock albums that you can take on the road or listen in private and will never wear you down. And unlike most prog-rock albums most of the songs are small but knitted together. The longest (just a couple of them) are only just a little over 5 min long and one over 4 min. After using “novel” based concepts in their breakthrough album “Mirage”, Camel decided to go with Doug Fergusson’s suggestion of “The Snow Goose” by author Paul Gallico. Earlier they had contemplated on Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha and Steppenwolf. When Paul Gallico who detested smoking decided to take the band to court (Camel is also the name of the popular cigarette) the band avoided legal action by adding the words “Music inspired by” before the title of the album “The Snow Goose”.

This album also showcased Andrew Latimer’s flute abilities that he did for the first time on the previous album “Mirage” and he doesn’t disappoint. This is not the energetic and distorted sounds like Ian Anderson’s flute of Jethro Tull but melodious as flutes normally sound.

Here’s a review of the songs.

The Great Marsh introduces the album with the sounds of geese in a marsh. Gradually Peter’s chords on the keys take over. Female vocals and Andrew’s guitar can also be heard. Bass and drums join in for a lovely small introductory tune.

Rhayader introduces Latimer on flute with Peter on Piano and with other musicians break into a lovely instrumental with solos on the flute by Andrew and later Peter on the keyboards and finally Latimer concludes with the flute tunes once again.

Rhayader goes to Town starts with a bang. Latimer switches to the Fender Strat and the band delivers a lovely instrumental with Latimer doing a delightful solo on his guitar engaging the tremolo. Peter, Doug and Andy Ward provide all the necessary support.

Sanctuary – Lovely little guitar instrumental from Andrew Latimer.

Fritha – Lovely little guitar instrumental from Peter on the keyboards, Andrew on guitar and Doug on Bass.

The Snow Goose is a beautiful instrumental (befitting the title song) from the four musicians and I have listened to it infinite times already. Andrew’s Les Paul is soulful and beautiful.

Friendship – A nice digression using wind instruments. Except for the keyboard played by Peter the rest (trumpet, horn etc) are played by guest musicians. (This can be seen in the video, link below.)

Migration – With drum roll on the snare this song features non lyric-vocals from the musicians. Check out the lovely bass notes from Doug.

Rhayader alone – Soft keys and lovely guitar, Peter and Andrew perform a beautiful little tune befitting the lonliness of Rhayader in the song.

Flight of the Snow Goose – Starts with silence, Peter Bardens’ keyboards then sets in and the musicians burst into a happy tune.

Preparation – Andrew uses his flute again starting softly then vocals are heard with the music in the background become a repetitive loop giving it the real prog-rock feel. Some other sounds can also be heard. Song kept reminding me of the start of Wishbone Ash’s “Pilgrim”, as though preparing for something exciting.

Dunkirk – The rythmic sound on the keys, bass and drums does make you inquisitive but the monotonous tunes that start go on for about three minutes but after that Andrew Latimer delivers a searing hot solo on his guitar.

Epitaph – We hear a similar loop that we did before in “Preperation” and it goes on to fade.

Fritha Alone – Beautiful piano tune from Peter Bardens.

La Princesse Purdue – Starts from silence and gradually violin strings break the silence and the band goes into a tune and then pausing for Peter Bardens to do his bit on his keys and later to continue the earlier tune again with background score. Once again Peter goes into solo mode on his keys and almost coming to a stop. Andrew now takes over with his melancholy tune on his guitar signalling a “Goodbye” with Peter mixing tunes from “The Snow Goose” instrumental. The Bass from Doug is almost identical to what he played on The Snow Goose. You could say this was a different version of The Snow Goose instrumental.

The Great Marsh – As conclusion a visit is paid to the marsh and sounds of the geese is once again heard. Peter Concludes with the same keyboard sounds that he used to start the album.

The YouTube link to the live performance of “The Snow Goose”, “Friendship” and “Rhyader goes to town” on the Old Grey Whistle Test recorded way back in May 9, (also my birthday anniversary), 1975, displays Camel’s fantastic live playing. Watch a shy Andrew and his friends play great tunes from The Snow Goose.

The album’s success also led to a prestigious sell out concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London, with the London Symphony Orchestra in the same year of the album’s release. In 1981 The Snow Goose reached Silver status but I really wonder if many good music listeners have listened to this lovely album.

A very different prog-rock album from one my all time favourite prog rock sounds, the Canterbury sound. You won’t regret it.

Buy Camel’s The Snow Goose from Amazon.com. The 2002 remaster even has additional bonus covers and unreleased versions of the songs on the album.

You can find all Camel related information on their official site www.camelproductions.com. Anderw Latimer is just recovering from a stem cell transplant operation to help him fight his blood disorder. Susan Hoover, Andrew’s wife reports regularly on his condition on the bands newsletter, also found on the same site under the link News. Also find all merchandise and recordings (Audio and Video) of Camel on the site www.camelproductions-store.com if you cannot get them on Amazon.

Better still download the album for free at UnlimitedDownloadCenter.com.

“Beyond Expression” by Finch

Not a very artistic or impressive cover art for an album but that only belies what lies beneath in the record/CD.

By the way, it’s been a long time since I made a post. I have been busy mostly due to the move into my new home. Now that I have almost settled posts on great-anonymous-albums.com should come quicker but let me see.

If someone were to say to you that the greatest keyboardists of the world were John Lord (Deep Purple), Keith Emerson (Emerson Lake and Palmer), Rick Wakeman (Yes) and or Tony Banks (Genesis) then you could tell that persion that it is like saying that the only beautiful women in this world are the ones who end up in the top 5 of the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants. It is unfortunate that whenever we talk or write about rock music we look only towards the U.K, U.S.A/Canada and a few other english speaking countries. But doesn’t that make it outrageously silly that non-english speaking countries hardly have anything to do with rock or rock n’ roll. What were other musicians doing in other countries at the same time when the “rock” revolution” were going on? Simple answer: They were into “rock” as well. But lack of english speaking and poor marketing (barring a few big bands such as ABBA, A-Ha from Scandinavia, AC/DC, Inxs, Men At Work from Australia, the Reggae legends from the Carribean and several other similar groups) many great bands from other nations have hardly been given their due.

One such band whose album is in review is Finch, the progressive rock act from the Netherlands who lasted only four years, from 1974 till 1978. The band was founded by Peter Vink on Bass (his inspiration, Chris Squire, bassist of Yes and also played the similar Rickenbacker RM1999 bass as his idol) and Beer Klasse on drums (influences – Mahavishnu Orchestra, Cream). After a few initial members they finally settled with the 19 year old wonder who auditioned on guitars, Joop Van Nimwegen (influences – Stewe Howe of Yes, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Alvin Lee, John McLaughlin), and Cleem Determeijer on keyboards who was pursuing music studies at the Academy of Music in his country.

Lack of vocals did not stop Finch from making music. In all they released only three studio albums. My pick of the three will be this one, “Beyond Expression” their second album. It was more matured than their debut. Certainly it will be difficult to believe this one came from Netherlands although the Dutch are aware that they were never behind the top bands of the times when it came to Progressive Rock. However to the rest of the world they remain anonymous. Finch did have some fan following during their world tours but they soon disintegrated and have been almost lost in oblivion.

This is one album worth a listen if you are into progressive rock. There are only three songs in this album and in true prog-rock style are timed 20.05 minutes, 8.51 minutes and 14.24 minutes. The music is a wonderful mix of great riffs, exciting moments, music played at incredible speeds, and music that is both exhilirating and beautiful in melody. Cleem Determeijer on keyboards and Joop Van Nimwegen on guitar stretch their instruments to the maximum and you cannot help admiring their talents.

A description of the three songs:

1. A passion condensed - 20.05 minutes
Not a very impressive 5 minute intro but let that not fool you into what’s coming. After that upto the 8.5 min mark the slow and mellow instrumental takes over and gets even more slower into an acoustic delight on guitar and keys till the 11.00 minute mark. Then drums and bass join in and culminates with a soul touching blistering lead guitar solo from the guitar prodigy that goes on till the 13.00 min mark only to fade into the acoustic tune started before the song. This goes on till the 15.00 minute mark. Then they are joined by drums and bass slowly taking the concluding tune using the lead guitar to its conclusion with soulful and great playing. At 17 mintues the tempo changes to a quicker pace this time Cleem on the keyboards doing the honours in the beginning and later joined by Joop. At 18.20 the organ and guitars trade classic licks to get back to the earlier tunes for a conclusion in style.

2. Scars on the ego - 8.51 minutes.
Starts of like a fire engine/police car sound gradually moving into a sound typical of 70′s deep purple/Uriah Heep with riffs, organ bass and drums and the works. 2 minutes after the intro a peaceful acoustic on piano/guitar remeniscent of Genesis in their progressive days goes on (making the tunes remind you of days of peace and serenity and of other such quiet days gone by). Bass and drum join lightly after 2 minutes but go full bloom when the lead guitar takes off for another soulful face-melter at 6 minutes and to return to the melancholic acoustic they started with. Once again they go back to the earlier 70′s sound riff then change the pace to a quick drum beat with muffled lead guitar doing its speedy works to be joined by some synthesized keys. both then join, and conclude.

3. Beyond the Bizzarre – 14.24 minutes
Starts in a slow organ style. Guitar joins the lovely tune. After the intro and at 3 minutes a different tempo and keyboardist takes over in another Genesis like tune. Guitar once again joins in and together play some tunes together in the only slightly boring part of the album. At 6 minutes the music stops and a melodious piano takes over, setting the scene for the next onslaught where the lead guitar takes the limelight. Others join in to make good music together. 8 mins later music changes course. You also hear some synthesized siren sounds from Cleem with ocassional bass and cymbals. A mini Pink Floyd effect fills the room. This is followed by acoustic sound guitar chords and piano/synthesizer. The acoustics are beautifully supported by cymbals/bass that soon turn into another instrumental with lead guitar taking lead. Meaningful tunes are belted out. Keys join to keep echoing the tunes till the musicians bring it to a nice conclusion.

Actually the descriptions of the songs have their best effect if you are listening to the music as you read. If you are looking for a rare album from a non-english speaking country that was missed, this is the one.

Check for Finch’s albums at UnlimitedDownloadCenter.com where you can even download it for free.

In the Land of Grey and Pink by Caravan.

When I started this blog Caravan’s “In the Land of Grey and Pink” was my obvious first choice for two important reasons. 1. This is such a great album not many have listened to and, 2. Rolling Stone in their 1996 edition of the Encylopedia of Rock N Roll decided to remove Caravan from their listings. I wonder how they could keep one-hit-wonder bands such as “Bow Wow Wow” (remember that band from the 80′s) and XTC and remove Caravan who are listenable even after three and a half decades of In the Land of Grey and Pink’s release.

Considered their finest work “In the Land of Grey and Pink” is a milestone in progressive rock. Released in September 1971, “In the land of…” was the band’s third album and was considered “Perfect in every sense” and “Virtually flawless”. The line-up of the band that made this album was the same that existed right from the band’s inception, comprising Pye Hastings (Lead Vocals, Guitars), David Sinclair (Keyboards -organ/piano/mellotron), Richard Sinclair (bass, vocals) and Richard Coughlan (Drums). Other musicians Jimmy Hastings (Pye’s brother) and David Grinsted contribute on flute/trenor sax/piccolo and cannon/bell/wind respectively.

The striking feature of this prog-rock album from other albums of the same genre is that the lyrics are not cryptic or poetic or even dark as prog-rock lyrics tend to be. The songs are about love and the joys and pains in life and such. Even the music doesn’t sound dark, complex or mysterious. Instead what you get is some melodious and easy listening rock and with a touch of melancholy here and there. This album also established Caravan’s signature sound. For vocals both Richard Sinclair and Pye Hastings are wonderful in their own ways. The vocals are haunting, smooth and even funny at times. Richard Sinclair has written most of the songs except for “Love to Love you” which was penned by Pye. No screaming, noise or distortion from the vocals or instruments. The music is soft and mellow demanding consistently repeat listens from you. Songs and music sound ethereal and remind you of wide spaces, breeze, water, nature and even friends.

The songs on the original release were:

1. Golf girl (5:05) – A happy little love song with a dash of humour. Ends with some lovely flute.

2. Winter wine (7:46) – Lovely organ and guitar solo; Some lovely lines from the song go as follows:

…Life’s too short to be sad, wishing things you’ll never have

You’re better off not dreaming of things to come

Dreams are always ending far too soon

Sounds of a distant melody, once played, lost from memory

Funny how it’s clearer now, you’re close to me

We’ll be together all the time…

3. Love to love you (and tonight pigs will fly) (3:06) Smallest song on the album, cute one, with some more flute.

4. In the Land of Grey and Pink (4:51) melodious piano, great organ and guitar work, all that can give you a natural high; lines about “weed” and “smoke it tell we bleed and that’s all we need”.

5. Nine feet underground: (22:40)  – Yes, you read it right, 22 minutes long, this opus in five parts is a classic. The five parts, Nigel blows a tune, Love’s a friend, Make it 76, Dance of the seven paper hankies, Hold grandad by the nose, Honest I did!, Disassociation and 100% proof, bring out the best from the musicians stretching their music prowess without making it boring or tiresome. Towards the end, after 16 or so minutes comes “Disassociation”, one of the sweetest songs you’ll ever hear any prog-rock album. No wonder it and the finale 100% proof were chosen as a remix single on the new mastered album. Here are the lovely lines of Disassociation:

…There’s a place where I can go, where I listen to the wind singing

Songs of happiness I know, and it brings it all back again

Somewhere deep inside of me there’s a song I can sing

Jigsaw puzzles on a tree, and it brings it all back again

Will the day be warm and bright, or will it snow

There are people waiting here who really want to know

And sometimes I think of wind, songs and laughter flowing free

People talking all the time and it brings it all back to me

Can’t you feel it in the air? I wonder what it’s meant to be

It’s the thought that can’t be spared and it brings it all back to me

Yes it brings it all back to me…

The new songs of the remastered CD are:

6. I don’t know its name (alias “The Word”) – Beautiful love song and that too just after the heavy dosage of music from “9 feet underground” with a nice touch of melancholy. Lovely sax and organ work. Unforgettable lines from the album are:

…I remember still the colour of your hair…

…spend these lonely hours dreaming of your touch, I came to love so much

…i tell you that i love you, but still you do not hear

And in my dreams i find you but you disappear…

I am still searching for the lyrics and will post more of this beautiful song when I get them.

7. Aristocracy – Another small song. and not a bad one certainly.

8. It’s likely to have a name next week – The instrumental version of “Winter Wine” with Richard Sinclair just humming for vocals. This was the original “Winter Wine” song “sans” lyrics.

9. Group Girl – considered to be the original version of Golf Girl.

10 Disassociation -100% proof – The final two pieces of “Nine feet underground”. The first piece is certainly worth a second listen.

The remastered CD is the one you should go for. Highly recommended for every serious prog-rock fan.

To buy Caravan’s “In the Land of Grey and Pink” CD from Amazon click here.

Better still download the album for free at UnlimitedDownloadCenter.com.

Caravan still rock for their avid fans. Original memebers include Pye Hastings and Richard Coughlan. Their last tour including their 35′th anniversary concert took place in 2003 after their latest album was released just before the tour. For information on the band, check out http://www.caravan-info.co.uk/