CAMEL - Harbour of Tears (1996-2016) RM / SHM-CD / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Strap yourself in for another dire journey with Camel. This time it's the Irish immigration to America, a fitting travel companion for Dust and Dreams or Nude. The Celtic overtones are largely dispensed with by the second track, and what emerges is a finely conceived concept album filled with rich, saturated arrangements and guitar leads that cut through the surrounding music like a beacon. More so than Dust and Dreams, Harbour of Tears feels like it was intended for the stage. The instrumentals are oftentimes simple bridges to the next phase of storytelling; the music is streamlined (even with strings and winds) to advance a linear progression in the listener's mind. If some of this seems familiar, remember that Camel have been likely to retrace the occasional familiar footprint during 20 years of traveling (e.g., "Eyes of Ireland" has been heard before). During the interim, Andrew Latimer has become a remarkable conjurer of conjoined sound and imagery; the way in which he uses different sounds to suggest scenes and action is imagistic music in the best sense of the word. The rest of the cast is equally accomplished, drawing on the estimable skills of Mae McKenna, Mickey Simmonds, lyricist Susan Hoover, and others to create a full-bodied presentation. Harbour of Tears isn't a sad tale; it's simply bittersweet, and sometimes heroic. Camel are careful to walk a balance between hope and hardship, to convey the hushed (if barren) beauty of Ireland against the coarse reality of immigrant life in America. Again, it's a marvel that the band continue to invest so much skill and vision into their music at this late juncture in their journey, but that's the advantage of choosing your own path. Drawing out individual tracks is antithetical to Harbour's design. The disc should be heard in its entirety, by Camel fans old and new. And if you're vacillating between this and Dust, dream another day and buy Harbour of Tears first. Just be mindful of the last track, as Camel take their time waving goodbye. by Dave Connolly
Tracklist:
1 Irish Air 0:57
Traditional
2 Irish Air (Instrumental Reprise) 1:57
Traditional
3 Harbour of Tears 3:12
Susan Hoover / Andy Latimer
4 Cóbh 0:50
Susan Hoover / Andy Latimer
5 Send Home the Slates 4:23
Susan Hoover / Andy Latimer
6 Under the Moon 1:16
Susan Hoover / Andy Latimer
7 Watching the Bobbins 7:13
Susan Hoover / Andy Latimer
8 Generations 1:01
Susan Hoover / Andy Latimer
9 Eyes of Ireland 3:09
Susan Hoover / Andy Latimer
10 Running from Paradise 5:20
Susan Hoover / Andy Latimer
11 End of the Day 2:29
Susan Hoover / Andy Latimer
12 Coming of Age 7:21
Susan Hoover / Andy Latimer
13 The Hour Candle 23:00
Susan Hoover / Andy Latimer
Credits:
Bass Guitar, Vocals – Colin Bass
Bass, Vocals – David Paton
Cello – Barry Phillips
Drums – John Xepoleas
French Horn – John Burton
Guitar [Guitars], Flute, Keyboards, Vocals, Tin Whistle [Penny Whistles] – Andrew Latimer
Keyboards – Mickey Simmonds
Lyrics By – Andrew Latimer (tracks: 3, 5), Susan Hoover (tracks: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11)
Music By – Andrew Latimer (tracks: 3 to 13)
Oboe, Soprano Saxophone, Harmonium – Neil Panton
Organ [Hammond] – Chris Now (tracks: 7)
Producer – Andrew Latimer
Violin – Anita Stoneham, Karen Bentley
Vocals [A Capella] – Mae McKenna