Andrew Latimer - War Stories (2025) [Hi-Res]

Such a welcome return to the scene for this humble British legend who, as I understand it, has been battling some form of cancer for decades, which has prevented him from getting the music which he’s never stopped creating during all these years, out to his listeners.

Largely devoid of vocals, to my ears the Camel frontman Andrew Latimer’s first solo effort War Stories for long passages carries much of the melancholy energy that permeated Dust and Dreams and Harbour of Tears, occasionally also venturing into Gilmour-esque stretches within its longer, presumably improvised solo sections. Most of it, though, certainly has that unmistakable Camel feel.

Yet the overall experience expands beyond the sum of the above, as the tempo picks up a bit here and there throughout the album when the composer adds some more Middle Eastern touches – somewhat in vein of those on Rajaz, and dynamic orchestral sections – pushing it toward soundtrack territory. A piano ballad of heartfelt sadness rounds off the selection of lamentations very nicely.

The War Stories pieces often feel both wistful and majestic, sorrowful without coming across negative, despite that they deal with the consequences of war. My only complaint is that the whole album is presented as a single song which makes it harder to spontaneously appreciate in smaller doses.