Camel/WA, USA 2003

“A NOD AND A WINK” is dedicated to the late Peter Burdens and is CAMEL’s final work to date. The masterpiece live album that has been representative of the farewell tour that took place after its release is now available as an upgraded version. This work was recorded at “Alexandria performance on June 30, 2003”. It is the super best audience recording. “A NOD AND A WINK” was released in 2002, but the farewell tour started the following year in 2003. The scene is also preserved as the official video “THE OPENING FAREWELL”, so let’s check the position from the schedule at the time. ・June 26th-30th: North America (4 performances) ←★Coco★《Tom Brislin → Ton Scherpenzel replacement》 ・October 8th-26th: Europe (17 performances) ・October 27th- 29th: UK (3 performances) This is CAMEL in 2003. The official “THE OPENING FAREWELL” was the first day of the “North American” tour, but the Alexandria performance of this work was the final day four days later. The North American tour was originally scheduled to continue, but was canceled due to Dennis Clement’s personal circumstances. After this, they were disbanded for 10 years, but no US show was held after that, and as a result, this was their last North American concert. This work, which recorded such a monumental stage, has a special sound. Anyway, close contact with zero sense of distance. The core is turned on so much that you don’t feel the presence of the atmosphere, and along with that, ultra-clear details are poured directly into your ears. Since then, it has received rave reviews as “excellent soundboard level” and “official level”, but 17 years later, it has not changed at all by modern standards, and I am once again wondering, “Where is the audience in this!?” It’s a superb sound that makes you want to listen. Moreover, this work updates the highest peak of such a transcendent master. As a matter of fact, several titles have appeared due to their wonderful sound, but the ones that have been released so far have had some flaws (albeit very subtle). The most noticeable thing was the last “Never Let Go”, where there was a momentary sound blur and noise. However, this work is the best master without such flaws. It is a live album where you can seamlessly continue to enjoy the sound that has been called the “highest sound quality in CAMEL history”. What is depicted with such a supreme sound is a full show that is the culmination of the disbandment. As mentioned above, it is only four days after “THE OPENING FAREWELL”, but the set is slightly different. Let’s compare and organize them here. Beginning – Middle (11 songs)・MIRAGE: Lady Fantasy・THE SNOW GOOSE: Rhayader／Rhayader Goes to Town MOONMADNESS: Lunar Sea／Another Night／Spirit of the Water・RAIN DANCES: Unevensong・BREATHLESS: Echoes・I CAN SEE YOUR HOUSE FROM HERE: Hymn to Her/Ice・NUDE: Drafted final stage (5 songs)・CAMEL: Arubaluba (★)/Never Let Go (★)・DUST AND DREAMS: Mother Road・A NOD AND A WINK: Fox Hill (★) /For Today *Note: Songs marked with “★” cannot be heard even in the official work “THE OPENING FAREWELL”. …and it looks like this. Focusing on the golden 70’s, we have selected a wide range of works from the debut work “CAMEL” to the final work “A NOD AND A WINK”. However, it is not completely random, and is broadly divided into two types. Up until the middle of the show, it has been assembled from the golden era from “MIRAGE” to “NUDE”, but the final five songs have a completely new image. Their debut work and recent works “DUST AND DREAMS” and “A NOD AND A WINK” are highlights that fly across the era. And what is different from the official work “THE OPENING FAREWELL” is this final stage. Selections such as the two debut songs and the new song “Fox Hill” can only be enjoyed in this work. Of course, the performance that makes up such a set is the highlight. Tom Brislin, who is familiar with YES’s “SYMPHONIC TOUR” and RENAISSANCE’s Japan tour, is on the keyboard, and you can hear him harmonize with Latimer throughout. The final stage is a series of highlights. “Mother Road” has a wonderful crisp guitar, “For Today” is a huge song that lasts over 10 minutes, and “Never Let Go” is the final song that brings out loud cheers. Before “For Today,” Latimer touches on the 9/11 terrorist attacks (which were still fresh at the time), and introduces the song as “a song about us living in modern times.” And, after the performance, the audience, who had been listening silently due to the moving performance, suddenly explodes into a huge mood, which is moving. With this show, CAMEL’s activities in North America ended, and after the tour ended, CAMEL went into a 10-year slumber. Of course, the subsequent revival is still fresh in our memories, but there is no doubt that 2003 was a major turning point. This work is a masterpiece of a live album that allows you to witness such a time and place with the best sound. The highest-quality recording in history, hailed as a miracle since that time. Live at the Birchmere, Alexandria, Washington, USA 30th June 2003 ULTIMATE SOUND(UPGRADE) Disc 1(64:41) 1. Intro 2. Lady Fantasy 3. Unevensong 4. Hymn to Her 5. Echoes 6. Drafted 7. Rhayader 8 . Rhayader Goes to Town 9. Lunar Sea 10. Another Night Disc 2(61:52) 1. Ice 2. Spirit of the Water 3. Fox Hill 4. Arubaluba 5. Mother Road 6. For Today 7. Never Let Go Andy Latimer – guitar, flute, and vocals Colin Bass – bass and vocalsDenis Clement – drums Tom Brislin – keyboards