Harbour of Tears

• Artist: Camel
• Rating:
• Release Date: January 20, 1996
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Rock

Review

Strap yourself in for another dire journey with Camel. This time it's the Irish immigration to America, a fitting travel companion for Dust and Dreams or Nude. The Celtic overtones are largely dispensed with by the second track, and what emerges is a finely conceived concept album filled with rich, saturated arrangements and guitar leads that cut through the surrounding music like a beacon. More so than Dust and Dreams, Harbour of Tears feels like it was intended for the stage. The instrumentals are oftentimes simple bridges to the next phase of storytelling; the music is streamlined (even with strings and winds) to advance a linear progression in the listener's mind. If some of this seems familiar, remember that Camel have been likely to retrace the occasional familiar footprint during 20 years of traveling (e.g., "Eyes of Ireland" has been heard before). During the interim, Andrew Latimer has become a remarkable conjurer of conjoined sound and imagery; the way in which he uses different sounds to suggest scenes and action is imagistic music in the best sense of the word. The rest of the cast is equally accomplished, drawing on the estimable skills of Mae McKenna, Mickey Simmonds, lyricist Susan Hoover, and others to create a full-bodied presentation. Harbour of Tears isn't a sad tale; it's simply bittersweet, and sometimes heroic. Camel are careful to walk a balance between hope and hardship, to convey the hushed (if barren) beauty of Ireland against the coarse reality of immigrant life in America. Again, it's a marvel that the band continue to invest so much skill and vision into their music at this late juncture in their journey, but that's the advantage of choosing your own path. Drawing out individual tracks is antithetical to Harbour's design. The disc should be heard in its entirety, by Camel fans old and new. And if you're vacillating between this and Dust, dream another day and buy Harbour of Tears first. Just be mindful of the last track, as Camel take their time waving goodbye. ~ Dave Connolly, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Irish Air	Traditional	Camel	(:57)
Irish Air (Instrumental Reprise) [Instrumental][Version]	Traditional	Camel	(1:57)
Harbour of Tears	Andy Latimer, Susan Hoover	Camel	(3:12)
Cóbh	Susan Hoover, Andy Latimer	Camel	(:50)
Send Home the Slates	Susan Hoover, Andy Latimer	Camel	(4:23)
Under the Moon	Andy Latimer, Susan Hoover	Camel	(1:16)
Watching the Bobbins	Susan Hoover, Andy Latimer	Camel	(7:13)
Generations	Andy Latimer, Susan Hoover	Camel	(1:01)
Eyes of Ireland	Andy Latimer, Susan Hoover	Camel	(3:09)
Running from Paradise	Susan Hoover, Andy Latimer	Camel	(5:20)
End of the Day	Andy Latimer, Susan Hoover	Camel	(2:29)
Coming of Age	Susan Hoover, Andy Latimer	Camel	(7:21)
The Hour Candle [A Song for My Father]	Andy Latimer, Susan Hoover	Camel	(23:00)

Credits

Chris Now (Editing), Barry Phillips (Cello), Andy Latimer (Flute), Colin Bass (Mixing), Colin Bass (Guitar (Bass)), Andy Latimer (Penny Whistle), Karen Bentley (Violin), Andy Latimer (Guitar), Mae McKenna (Vocals), Colin Bass (Vocals), Andy Latimer (Mixing), Jon Storey (Design), David Paton (Vocals), Mickey Simmonds (Keyboards), John Burton (French Horn), Chris Now (Mastering), David Paton (Bass), Andy Latimer (Producer), Andy Latimer (Vocals), Andy Latimer (Keyboards)

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