Camel – Mirage, 2CD / Blu-ray Remastered Edition (Esoteric/Cherry Red Records, 2025)
Mirage is one of the masterpieces of 1970s British progressive rock. Camel at the time delivered extended instrumental passages with outstanding guitar, flute, and keyboard parts supported by a highly competent rhythm section. Indeed, the flute became one of the signature sounds of Camel. Although the album has emotive vocals, Mirage is primarily an instrumental effort with stellar guitar, flute, organ, and synth work. Camel brought together masterful compositional skills, the passionate energy of rock, the artful arrangements and orchestrations of western classical music, dexterous fusion jazz-style progressions, a dash of blues, and some truly memorable melodies.
Significantly, Mirage was the second studio album by Camel, originally released on March 1, 1974, on Gama Records/Deram Records. Moreover, Mirage is one of those albums where the entire set is excellent, a keeper and must have. On top of that, it features iconic songs that are some of the best Camel ever produced. As an additional treat, for Lord of the Rings fans, Mirage includes a suite with three parts titled “Nimrodel/The Procession/The White Rider” seemingly inspired by Gandalf.
The album was the band’s first release for Decca Records (appearing on the Deram label). Although it failed to chart in the UK upon release, it did enter the US Billboard chart.
This three disc set includes 2 audio CDs with some bonus material and demo versions, and a Multi-Region Blu-ray version. You’ll find the original album mix remastered by Ben Wiseman as well as 5.1 surround sound and stereo mixes by English producer and engineer Stephen W Tayler plus seven bonus tracks recorded in 1973 and during the album sessions. The set also contains an illustrated booklet with an essay.
Musicians: Andrew Latimer on guitars, flute; vocals on “The White Rider” and “Lady Fantasy”; Peter Bardens on organ, piano, Minimoog, Mellotron, Fender electric piano, Hohner clavinet, celesta, and vocals on “Freefall” and “Lady Fantasy”; Doug Ferguson on bass; and Andy Ward on drums, percussion.
Produced by David Hitchcock
Engineered by Howard Kilgour and Bill Price
Track Listing
Disc One Mirage Remastered
1 Freefall
2 Supertwister
3 Nimrodel
i) The Procession ii) The White Rider
4 Earthrise
5 Lady Fantasy
i) Encounter ii) Smiles for You iii) Lady Fantasy
Bonus tracks – demo session July 73
6 Earthrise
7 The Traveller
8 Supertwister
9 The White Rider
10 Lady Fantasy
Disc Two Stephen W Tayler stereo mix
1 Freefall
2 Supertwister
3 Nimrodel
i) The Procession ii) The White Rider
4 Earthrise
5 Lady Fantasy
i) Encounter ii) Smiles for You iii) Lady Fantasy
Bonus tracks:
6 Autumn
7 Lady Fantasy (AIR studios first mix)
Disc Three High resolution 5.1 & stereo mixes + original stereo mix
1 Freefall
2 Supertwister
3 Nimrodel
i) The Procession ii) The White Rider
4 Earthrise
5 Lady Fantasy
i) Encounter ii) Smiles for You iii) Lady Fantasy
Bonus track
6 Autumn
Buy Mirage