The Frying Pan

Music Review #5:

Camel

The Snow Goose

1975

Decca Records 

Camel's The Snow Goose is undoubtedly much more of an experience than it is an album. You can still of course listen to the separate tracks without encountering much auditory inconsistencies, but much like Pink Floyd's The Wall, you must hear the album in a single go to understand the full meaning of the music. The Snow Goose follows more the mindset of musical poetry, and thus is devoid of any vocalization apart from occasional tidbits. Instead, all thoughts and feelings are conveyed simply by the instrumentation.

According to the back of my vinyl, the story of The Snow Goose tells of a man named Rhayader who lives in a lighthouse in Essex, around the marsh area. Rhayader is treated with indignation by the townsfolk mostly due to his "odd appearance". The other individual whom the story tells of is a woman named Fritha, who finds an injured snow goose that was swept off sea from a storm. She brings the goose to Rhayader in his lighthouse. While the goose is being nursed back to health, the three of them start to grow a bond. However after the goose departs fully healed, Fritha finds no reason to return to the lighthouse and Rhayader is again left alone to the Essex marshes. Much time passes, until one day Rhayader spots the snow goose on the horizons and excitedly sends for Fritha. He starts to send his boat out to find the goose but arrives in the middle of what appears to be a battle at a place called Dunkirk. Desperately Rhayader tries to help injured soldiers by ferrying them back to safety, but his ship is sunken by supposedly cannon fire and he and the wounded soldiers drown in the cold waters of Dunkirk. Fritha, who is still at the lighthouse, somehow realizes that Rhayader will not return. She suddenly spots the snow goose as it seems to be flying back to land. She is filled with bittersweet joy as the goose comes closer as if to land, but instead turns around and flies away never to return.

Musically, The Snow Goose shines remarkably well. Most every bit is polished and flows beautifully, even the one to two minute tracks. Some areas of the album can be slightly boring however and serve only to fill up unnecessary space in the narrative. Many tracks I found enjoying highly, such as the blood pumping battle theme of 'Dunkirk', the sense of adventure from both 'Migration' and 'Flight of the Snow Goose', and even the personal themes from some of the characters. Much ambiance is utilized to great avail, and much of the instrumentation by Camel is very well done and tells their story well. I'd say that this sort of rock-opera type album is quite good, and that if you haven't listened to it I say pick it up. My personal rating would lie around the 4 - 4.5/5 area. Very good.

© 2015 - The Frying Pan & Thatcher 

Originally written for Prog Archives on 7/13/2015.

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