CAMEL – Music Inspired by THE SNOW GOOSE (1975/ 2025)

Another album that will be 50 years old on 25th April: strangely enough despite four albums being reissued by Esoteric Recordings in 2025 there is still no sign of “The Snow Goose”. The music was conceived and written by Andy Latimer and Pete Bardens during a two week retreat in Devon. The author of the book on which it was based, Paul Gallico, did not give his blessing; instead, Ed Welch and Spike Milligan were authorised to develop the concept. Camel’s version did however go on to attain silver disc status in 1981.

After a quiet, atmospheric ‘prelude’ the ‘Rhyader’ section is rockier, with ‘Rhyader’ itself released as a single and ‘Rhyader Goes to Town’ featuring an extended expressive guitar break from Latimer. A wistful solo guitar piece ‘Sanctuary’ follows; ‘Fritha’ has a flute/synth duet while ‘Migration’, the only one with a vocal (actually a wordless voice!) always reminds me of Hatfield and the North. ‘Rhyader Alone’ is a wistful bass/electric piano/ guitar trio led piece while ‘Flight’ was the B-side of the single. ‘Preparation’ has a memorable flute line and haunting choral effects (you can almost touch the fog as it descends on the English Channel). The determination to get across is almost tangible in ‘Dunkirk’ as the music crescendos and Andy Ward lets loose on the drum kit. Another Latimer guitar solo appears on ‘Epitaph’, a reprise of ‘Preparation’, with an additional bell adding to the charged atmosphere. Barden’s piano on ‘Fritha Alone’ is touching while David Bedford’s orchestration comes to the fore on the celebratory ‘La Princesse Perdue’ before we exit with another fine piece ‘The Great Marsh’.

Camel’s “Music Inspired by The Snow Goose” is simply one of the best instrumental conceptual rock albums in history, authentically orchestrated by David Bedford and sympathetically produced by David Hitchcock. In a survey of 100 favourite prog rock albums I once conducted, six Camel albums made the cut with “The Snow Goose” the preferred option. Of course, I would also have to make a shout for “Mirage” and “Moon Madness”!