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Rating:
After the release of Stationary Traveller (1984), Camel, led by the sole surviving member Latimer, had to endure seven difficult years before being able to produce a new album. Fortunately, with the establishment of a new operational base in Mt. View (CA) and the creation of Camelproductions, Andy Latimer managed to release "Dust And Dreams" in 1991.
The album is a concept album consisting of sixteen tracks for a total of forty-seven minutes and fifty-five seconds. Personally, I found this album particularly successful both artistically and technically. The structure of the concept is convincing, and each track is enjoyable and never predictable. Essentially, it is an instrumental album with only four sung tracks. The album draws inspiration from "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck. The title of the CD is decidedly laden with meanings, and in the excellent booklet (printed on recycled paper) there are some artistic black and white photos sourced from the "Library of Congress" that reinforce its meaning. Notably, the cover features a child, and the back cover depicts an old man bending down to pick up a sack. Two different moments in a human being's life, that of youth, laden with dreams and hopes with plenty of time available, and that of old age when many dreams have vanished and the available time is drawing to an end...
Often, the life journey a person must undertake is precisely about realizing dreams, finding (or creating) a job, finding a home, creating a family, raising a child. Unfortunately, sometimes a bad event occurs, and what you can do is either start all over again or, "grit your teeth" and keep going until the end of time...
This CD also maintains high compositional standards like the entire Camel discography (or nearly so). The tone of the work is melancholic and extremely profound in its concepts. Latimer's guitar "touch" is always moving and convincing, and even if his singing style is not particularly brilliant, it is always sincere and full of passion. As always, there are no "monstrous" technicalities, there are no extensive solos, all the music is perfectly calibrated and balanced. Among all the tracks on the album, I would like to highlight "Go West", a simple and moving ballad sung by Andy. "Mother Road", a more rhythmic piece sung by Andy with excellent guitar solos. The beautiful "Rose of Sharon" sung with a delicate and refined voice by Mae McKenna. Also unforgettable is "End of The Line" sung by Andy with excellent Blues-style guitar solos. This might be my favorite track. "Cotton Camp", "Broken Banks", and "Hopeless Anger" are highly valuable instrumentals with a focus on guitar and drums.
A less immediate album compared to other Camel works, which requires more listens to be fully appreciated but will linger in the heart much longer over time, at least it did for me. Before concluding, I just want to add two words for the great "CameLatimer": "DON'T GIVE UP!".
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
04 Mother Road (04:15)
You've made your decision to leave
there's no turning 'round.
Now that you've got a reprieve,
you must stand your ground.
Some of the others are weak,
so you must be strong
$155 won't last very long...
Ma, will we make out,
do you think that this old car
will last?
Pa, is there some doubt,
if our bad luck will
stay in the past?
Well I'm hoping it's so,
but you can't really know til the end.
They tell me that all things must change
but they begin again.
Listen to the motor and the road
and how does it feel?
Listen with your ears and your hands
on the steering wheel.
Ma, will we make out,
do you think that this old car will last?
Pa, is there some doubt,
if our bad luck will stay in the past?
Listen now boys,
what your ma has told you
there is no way we can tell...
We've got to face this road together
and have some faith
in ourselves.
Ma, will we make out,
do you think that this old car will last?
Pa, is there some doubt,
if our bad luck will
stay in the past?
Ma,
Will we make out...?
06 Rose of Sharon (04:48)
Love, are you awake or are you sleeping?
I'm so excited I could die...
starting out our lives.
Must make some plans for the future
now we need to settle down...
make a home our own.
What we gonna do when the baby comes?
It won't be long.
Love, am I awake or am I dreaming?
I'm so excited I could cry.
At times I'm so afraid.
Say you'll get a job
and never leave us...
Though I know you'll make it right,
Find a better life.
What we gonna do when the baby comes?
It won't be long.
Don't you ever go,
say you'll never leave
Promise you won't ever leave.
Don't leave me,
We need you.
Rose
I will try to settle down but
I can't tell the future
Rose
I will try to stay around but
I don't know the future
Oh Rose,
you'll never know,
just how much I need
you so.
Oh Rose, you'll never see
Just how much you mean
to me
But Rose,
This road is so hard and long
and I just can't say.
08 End of the Line (06:52)
Well I'm walking this lonely street
but I'm far from bein' alone
'Cause everyone I meet,
has nowhere to call home.
So they move on
from day to day,
just to stand in a line.
Well my mother she comes to me
and begs me not to fight.
For the sake of the family,
I have to stay out of sight.
So I move on
from day to day,
just to stand in a line.
On the road again
for a job I never find.
People talking...
as if we're not their kind.
I got a handbill,
says there's work up here.
Left my homeland...
and paid a price too dear.
I've come to the end of the line
there's too many men,
despair in their faces...
Each one of us hoping to find a life,
a home, a dream...
within the line.
I ain't helpless --
I just need a hand.
These are hard times,
for every kind of man.
I've come to the end of the line
there's too many men,
despair in their faces.
Each one of us hoping to find
a life, a home, a dream
a place to be.
(repeat)
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