Rock On! Wednesday, 14 May 2025 – Camel, King Crimson, Grobschnitt, Affinity & Traffic

Psychedelic, heavy, prog and more innovating sounds spanning the late 60s and the early 70s – Dan’s pick of the week: Camel (Mirage), King Crimson (In The Wake Of Poseidon), Grobschnitt (Jumbo), Affinity (Affinity) & Traffic (Welcome to the Canteen).

Camel is een Britse progressieve rockband, die sinds 1971 bestaat. De band heeft talloze bezettingswijzigingen ondergaan, waarbij gitarist Andrew Latimer steeds de constante factor is gebleven. De groep ontstond in 1971, toen toetsenist Peter Bardens zich bij Andrew Latimer, Andy Ward en Doug Ferguson voegde in de groep The Brew. De band veranderde de naam in Camel en gaf op 4 december van dat jaar hun eerste optreden, als voorprogramma voor Wishbone Ash.

Sputnik Music review: ““Mirage” became as one of the band’s most acclaimed albums. “Mirage” is probably the album that best illustrates the main features of the band, already mentioned by me above, which are undoubtedly, quality, simplicity and beauty. This is the album where Camel begins to develop their own distinctive sound with some intricate rhythms and the wonderful and unpredictable instrumental exchanges made notably by the two main songwriters of the band Latimer and Bardens.

With their second album, Camel delivered one of their masterpieces. “Mirage” is already that old, but even today it still sounds refreshingly young. With “Mirage”, Camel begins to develop their own distinctive sound, highlighted by the band’s liquid, intricate rhythms and the wonderful and unpredictable instrumental exchanges by guitarist Latimer and keyboardist Bardens. (…)

Every moment on every song on “Mirage” is to be treasured and every note is perfectly placed. The album has two epic pieces, but the seamless tracks flow unifying the themes and the harmonious sound. All make that all album feel like a real masterpiece. The album showcases an uncanny ability for melody, in which the songs with no lyrics will have you creating stories in your own mind to fit the real mood. “Mirage” is an essential progressive rock album, a true classic. With “Mirage”, Camel becomes as one of the greatest and most respected progressive rock bands. If you like of good progressive music and you don’t have this album yet, do yourself a favour and get “Mirage” as soon as possible.”

Wednesday, Wednesday, 14 May 2025 12:00 noon CET Brussels – 11 a.m. GMT London. Repeated: 16:00 & 20:00 hrs CET Brussels, 3 p.m. & 7 p.m. GMT London
Ends: 12 midnight CET Brussels, 11 p.m. GMT London.