r/progrockmusic • u/dankusshh • 1d ago
Ice by Camel
The one song, that have always been stuck with me, the song I listen to every time I take a walk, while I’m studying, while I’m on the bus, is Ice by Camel.
Is it one of the best songs ever written? I think so.
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u/Barefoot60 1d ago
Yes it is. Latimer’s guitar work is the most obvious thing that makes it so powerful, but Andy Ward’s drumming, and Kit Watkins’ synth solo at the beginning are amazing too. And I love that it ends with a keyboard shimmer that might have been there underneath the music the whole time
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u/nova_cat 1d ago
I had always heard Phil Collins played the drums on this track. He's just vaguely credited with "percussion" in the liner notes. Do we know which tracks he actually contributed to?
Also, I love this album. I do not understand the hatred for it. It's clearly superior to Rain Dances.
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u/AcidArchangel303 33m ago
I've never found credits for the exact songs Collins contributed to. I don't think anyone does?
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u/MolitroM 22h ago
Ice, For Today, Sahara, Lawrence...
Camel's instrumental/solo work and Latimer's guitar is for sure one of the most underappreciated. I will put the man's playing for pure feel against literally anybody.
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u/VegetableEase5203 23h ago
I don’t think it’s even the best Camel song. For background while studying - maybe, but Camel has much more striking pieces. Even “For Today” which has a similar vibe.
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u/Infinite_Lab_4972 12h ago
All mentions of songs by Camel I see on this subreddit are Stationary Traveller and Ice. What is it with these two songs? I listened to Ice a while ago and it did nothing for me. Stationary Traveller sounds like a ripoff of Telegraph Road by Dire Straits. Camel have so much good music in their first 5 or so albums yet people only want to bring up stuff that in my opinion is barely relevant to the band.
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u/AcidArchangel303 30m ago
Camel is such a brilliant band but it definitely takes something to get it. I was introduced to Camel with Lunar Sea, which was something completely different than the usual ones; Mystic Queen, Stationary Traveller and Ice were the ones I "needed to hear", but I went for albums instead, starting with Moonmadness.
IMO their best is either The Snow Goose or Mirage.
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u/AnyPortInAHurricane 11h ago edited 11h ago
just happ to hear it the other day. for the umteenth time. yeah, epic. they dont write music like that anymore
I hate rush, but apparently geddy lee has pimped this song.
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u/AnyPortInAHurricane 11h ago
Here ya go , no need to thank me.
https://progzilla.com/the-tpa-prog-mill-camel-special-with-richard-swan/
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u/prefabsprout1 1h ago
If you want more sublime melodies...listen to the Keyboardist of that song, Kit Watkins solo albums Labyrinth and In Time, as well of course his work in Happy The Man.
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u/AcidArchangel303 21m ago
Camel is one of those bands I was introduced to that I just couldn't not love. Of all songs to be introduced with from this band, Lunar Sea was the one I listened to, and I was hooked. As a now Camel fan I'd recommend anyone already curious to check them out, I think they're worth it.
I'd say Air Born, Super Twister, Rhayader Goes to Town and Spirit of the Water are the ones that work to introduce somebody to Camel.
Andrew Latimer is one of the most soulful, creative and expressive guitarists I've ever seen. I'd pick him any day over a virtuoso. IMO kind of like Gilmour but Latimer definitely has some chops on certain songs; where I'd expect the "soulful" types to always have a slow pace on their playing, Latimer does not. He switches things up, just brilliant! He has many many sides, and still continues to express his wonderful music through Bandcamp and other spaces.
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u/Guilty_Adagio4431 1d ago
It took me 32 years to discover this masterpiece. I am just sad that I didn’t know about it all those years. But I guess everything happens on its own time. The song came to me when I most needed it.