I was a bit critical earlier and I've clearly upset somebody. I was rather hoping to be proved wrong and have pointed out to me this brilliant post 70s Camel track available to hear on YouTube which would shoot my complaints down in flames. Perhaps there isn't one and I was right after all. I'm quite sad about that.
I'm certainly not questioning his skill as a player. News of his illness came as a very unhappy shock to me. He is reported as having myelofibrosis, which is definitely non-trivial; I don't know how badly he has it but be prepared for the worst.
I missed the "Breathless" tour but was there for the next three. Twice I enjoyed the concerts hugely but the third, in support of "The Single factor", was dire. The Manchester Apollo had sold very few tickets and bundled the fans into the stalls. The set list was largely new songs which didn't go down at all well until A.L. reluctantly gave us "a bloody old song". I rather lost interest in them after that. I've bought later albums once or twice but totally failed to get into them.
I suspect I'm not going to make many friends saying this: This piece seems to be a very ordinary rehash of past glories. Specifically Ice from ICSYHFH which closed that album breathtakingly. I'd forgive him revisiting that IF there was something interesting happening behind the guitar, as used to happen when Bardens was co-writing. There isn't. Mr. Latimer writes unsurprisingly well for the guitar but the problem I have had trying to enjoy Camel post-Nude is that only one idea occurs per song.
While I agree with you that the song does not resonate with the Latimer-Bardens Camel, I have not seen Latimer in such good form in a live performance than on this song. Anyway, we all hope and pray he can overcome his illness and treat us to his electric guitar prowess once again...
HI FRIEND, i BEG YOUR PARDON, WHAT S GOING ON WITH ANDY LATIMER ? YOU SAY HE IS ILL, WHY ? WHAT HAPPENED ? PLEASE REPLY ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM THE NUMBER ONE CAMEL FAN HERE IN ARGENTINA
To be continued...
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