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""Stationary Traveller" is probably a little less musically elaborate than the Camel's records that will follow, but it has that little almost quaint charm that the others don't have."
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4/5
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Tenth studio album from Camel, "Stationary Traveller", released in this distant year 1984, has just 20 years later benefited from a remastering allowing it to be embellished with an unreleased version of the track Pressure Points (more exactly, an extended version) and an unreleased bonus track 'In The Arms Of Waltzing Fraulein', a track that was left out of the final release. It is thus not less than 6 additional minutes of music which are offered to us! An excellent opportunity to get interested in this excellent record if it has not already been done.
But what can we expect musically in this last Camel of the 80s? Well, we have to admit that the first listening is a bit confusing. Not that we don't find the style of Camel which is always present. Andrew Latimer's voice or more exactly his way of singing is easily recognizable as well as his guitar playing, especially on the instrumental tracks. But most of the sung tracks have a very 80s sound. And the progressive aspect is not necessarily obvious.
In fact, you just have to get used to this rather mechanical drumming and these typical "eighties" keyboards which even give it a certain charm... The 'Refugee', 'Vopos', 'Cloak And Dagger Man' and 'West Berlin' end up being very pleasant to listen to. And finally, one surprises oneself to like them. But the best tracks are the excellent and very melancholic 'Fingertips' and 'Long Goodbyes'. The first one, carried by the saxophone of Mel Collins is a delight, as for the second one, it is a real jewel with its chorus remaining engraved in the head for a long time and its superb guitar solo. In the instrumental section, as usual with Camel, it's always the great class! The eponymous title for example has a superb piano part and its acoustic guitar is magnificent. 'Missing' and the famous extended version of 'Pressure Points' are also excellent tracks.
The compositions are on the whole quite direct and it is still on the level of the atmospheres that the main part of the work is done. As always, Andrew Latimer knows how to compose very good tracks. "Stationary Traveller" is probably a little less elaborated musically than the records that will follow, but it possesses this little almost old-fashioned charm that the others don't have. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. In The Arms Of Waltzing Frauleins - 02:17
02. Refugee - 03:48
03. Vopos - 05:31
04. Cloak And Dagger Man - 03:55
05. Stationary Traveller - 05:34
06. West Berlin - 05:09
07. Fingertips - 04:29
08. Missing - 04:21
09. After Words - 02:02
10. Long Goodbyes - 05:17
11. Pressure Points (extended Mix) - 06:14
LINEUP:
Andrew Latimer: Chant / Guitares
Cris Rainbow: Chant
David Paton: Chant / Basse
Mel Collins: Saxophone
Paul Burgess: Batterie
Tom Scherpenzeel: Claviers
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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(1) COMMENT(S)
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Avec "Stationary Traveller", Camel nous livre un excellent album concept de rock inspiré de Berlin la pourfendue. Le prog de Camel n'est peut-être pas aussi sophistiqué qu'avant mais le master Andy Latimer, docteur es émotions, sait toujours nous attendrir ('West Berlin', 'Stationary Traveller' et 'Long Goodbyes' sur lesquelles le guitariste nous rappelle ses talents de flûtiste, le poignant saxophone de Mel Collins sur 'Fingertips', le trop court 'After Words') ou nous faire frissonner (les ambiances inquiétantes de 'Vopo's' fidèle à leurs modèles avec les claviers de Tom Scherpenzeel de Kayak ou la fureur paranoïaque de 'Missing'). 'Cloak And Dagger Man', dans ma jeunesse, je croyais que ce morceau parlait de l'écrivain suédois Stig Dagerman (auteur entre autres de L'Automne Allemand', récit au sortir de la deuxième guerre mondiale sur une Allemagne ravagée et exsangue) avant de me renseigner sur cette expression anglaise qui évoque une intrigue mystérieuse. Ce titre devait devenir un tube interplanétaire en cette année 1984, incroyable que les radios l'aient raté: un morceau énergique et nerveux, le chant convaincant de Chris Rainbow et cette guitare qui illumine la partition. Andy Latimer est bien le plus grand guitariste sous-estimé du rock. On ne s'ennuie pas dans Berlin-Est entouré (ou encerclé par les Vopos) et par le fantôme de Marlène qui nous susurre a l'oreille ''Ich bin die fesche Lola und du bist mein König Andreas das Kamel".
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The album may not have been released or the spotify ID has not yet been entered or there is no spotify ID available
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READERS
4.2/5 (5 view(s))
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STAFF:
4.1/5 (8 view(s))
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT CAMEL
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