Search - Camel :: Never Let Go

Camel at their absolute best...live!

Jeffery K. Matheus | Indianapolis, IN United States | 02/04/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Over the years I have built up quite a collection of Camel CD's, and this 1993 double-disc live release "Never Let Go" is certainly one of the best! This album features one of the tightest and most technically proficient line-up's of this seminal British progressive rock band - with founding member Andy Latimer on guitar, flute and vocals, long-time member Colin Bass on bass, keyboards and vocals, former-Fish/Mike Oldfield collaborator Mickey Simmonds on keyboards, and powerful rock drummer Paul Burgess. The stereo recording and sound quality are top-notch here (which is not always the case with some of Camel's earlier efforts), and the set-list represents a good cross-section of Camel's best material over the years. "Never Let Go", "Earthrise", "Ice", and "Spirit of the Water" are some of Camel's best tunes, as well as the highlights of disc one. "Unevensong", "City Life", and "Drafted" are not only great songs, but these recordings of them far surpass the original studio versions in both passion and sonic quality. Similarly, disc two contains a complete live retelling of the band's 1991 studio effort "Dust and Dreams" (a musical version of John Stienbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath"), and the piece benefits greatly from the bands on-stage energy, and from a fuller-bodied production (the mellow, keyboard-based pieces "Go West" and Rose of Sharon" are absolutely beautiful! While "Mother Road" stands of one of Camel's best straight forward rock tunes). Disc two ends with an energetic encore of the Camel classic "Lady Fantasy", which streaches out the atmospheric middle-section and beefs up the harder-rocking section - perhaps the best version I've heard of this tune! The mid-range vocals of Colin Bass are smooth and melodic as usual, while Andy Latimer uses his low and husky voice to good effect on many of the tracks. However, as Camel fans know, it is not Latimer's vocals that have won him acclaim, but his soaring and passionate guitar work! Well, Andy never disappoints for a moment here, and his thick, melodic guitar tones dominate much of the album - and find a wonderful showcase in the instumental "Ice"! Mickey Simmonds also shines on keybaords, often using rich and spacious modern synth sounds that improve upon on the Camel studio recordings of old. Mr. Simmonds may well have been the finest of many keyboardists to pass through the Camel fold, but unfortunately, his time with the band was short-lived. Overall, if you are a long-time fan of Camel, or if you wish to check out the band's music for the very frist time...you can't go wrong with "Never Let Go"!"

Before this start with "COMING OF AGE" AND"LIVE RECORD"

Lethe | Milan, Italy | 11/26/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Well in my opinion you have to start with "COMING OF AGE" ,containing a selection of must have Camel tracks, and also with the fantastic live version of "The snow Goose", entitled "LIVE RECORD", which sounds much and much better than the studio album.Anyway here, if you skip "City Life" (the unique weak track from "Nude")and accept another version of the usual Lady Fantasy from "Mirage", which has been the song by which Andy has concluded a lot of lives, the rest is excellent stuff, even if They have forgotten here the essential "Beached" and "Docks" from "Nude", "Lunar sea" from "Moonmadness",plus the sweet "Hymn to her" from the normal AOR album"I can see your house from here"...besides of course there isn't the stuff from "Harbour of tears",this CD being not issued yet.Recommended, but start with "COMING OF AGE" and "LIVE RECORD" before this!!"

Perfection in Prog Rock... live!

Manny Hernandez | Bay Area, CA | 04/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Camel is one of the best prog rock acts to have ever hit the face of the earth. They have always taken their time to let their songs get to where they are headed, without any rush or urgency to push them into commercial radio-edit territory. The music of Camel simply stands strong in spite of the passing of time, and proof of that is how well this album holds on almost fifteen years after it was recorded.



Granted that I lost track of their work (if any) since the release of this album, they may as well have retired after putting out such an incredible live compilation. "Never Let Go" features some old material and then some OLDER material, to satisfy the hungriest of apetites for their music. Plus, the production is exquisite, with the recording of all instruments done impeccably. "Unevensong" and "Echoes" are testimony of this.



There is hardly a weak spot in the entire two CDs, so if you ask me, this is a keeper. Five stars, no less."