Review Summary: A pretty nice accessible work. A good document of the end of the 60’s.
“The Answer” is the debut studio album of Peter Bardens that was released in 1970. The line up on the album is formed by Bardens. But the album also had the participation of Linda Lewis, Steve Ellis, Alan Marshall, David Wooley, Andy Gee, Peter Green, Bruce Thoms, Rocky, Reg Isadore and Bill Porter.
As we know, the name of Peter Bardens is best known from the success of Camel, the progressive rock group he led in the early 70’s. However, Bardens had a great influence on the British music scene that took place in the previous decade, when he was a formative member of the London’s art school R&B scene and a figure of great spirit and energy.
In the beginning of his career, he fronted a band that included Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green. In 1970 Bardens released his first solo work, “The Answer”. The album featured several contributions by Peter Green, masquerading under the “Andy Gee” pseudonym. In 1972 Bardens formed a new band, Camel, with Andrew Latimer, Doug Ferguson and Andy Ward. Bardens remained with this successful band for the next six years, recording six albums, “Camel”, “Mirage”, “The Snow Goose”, “Moonmadness”, “Rain Dances” and “Breathless”. After that, he pursued his solo career.
So, Peter Bardens isn’t just the ordinary keyboard player of Camel, he is one of the most underrated keyboard players in the realms of Soul/R&B and the progressive rock sound of the 70’s. His first solo album, “The Answer”, shows Bardens’ taste for the Psych, the Blues, and the Prog genres blended together in a mixer. For Camel’s fans, this is a special treat as Bardens brings friends of his, including Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac. Together with Bardens, Green was responsible for the sound on the album. When you listen critically you’ll certainly hear the same kind of music that Fleetwood Mac made on their first releases. “The Answer” is dominated by the guitar which must be the influence of Peter Green who was Fleetwood Mac’s guitar hero at the time. But, Peter Bardens’ organ also has an important role, especially on the instrumental piece “Homage To The God Of Light”, which Camel played in their earlier days as well.
If we take a look at the following Bardens solo albums, we can see that most of them didn’t cause a great enthusiasm. His later albums, in particular, show in some cases an excessive tendency towards shallow New Age pop with disco elements. However, “The Answer” is an album of a different caliber. The cover of the album already indicated that the music on the album still breathes the spirit of the late 60’s. The songs are mostly blues. Fleetwood Mac guitarist, Green, is responsible for the bluesy atmosphere and the co-singer Linda, now and then, throws in a strong pinch of soul. The prog part is mostly still small here. It shows itself more in a certain psychedelic coloring of the songs. The exception is the great epic track of the album, “Homage To The God Of Light” that offers a true prog psychic climax.
The title track features a tight but expressive playing. It has an orchestral bluesy rock flavor between Bardens and Green. It has a nice arrangement on organ and guitar, whilst Ellis is in a fine vocal form. “Don’t Goof With A Spook” is a slow rock song. It has a drawn out lazy blues singing. “I Can’t Remember” has delicious Hammond call signs, wah-wah guitar effects and some exotic Cong tap. Bardens plays a prominent fuzzed organ. “I Don’t Want To Go Home” has a psychedelic mood. Flute is added to the usual arsenal of instruments. It has a certain charm with exquisite backing vocals. Bardens plays a honky-tonk piano here. “Let’s Get It On” has a blues rock feel between Green, Bardens and Linda. They take the song for the Chicago Blues and make it sound like the 60’s. That gives it a huge twist. “Homage To The God Of Light” contains the most progressive elements on the album. This 13 minute epic track would later become a live favorite with his start with Camel. It’s a wonderful experience that you’ve never heard before. There’s a moody and majestic feel at the start before melting into a surging organ driven instrumental powered by a relentless rhythm from drummer Isadore and congas player Rocky. It’s the great highlight on the album and the reason to buy it.
Conclusion: There are two reasons that made me check this album, Peter Bardens himself, who is, for me, one of the best keyboardists of the 70’s and the great suite “Homage To The God Of Light”. But, above all, the main reason was certainly “Homage To The God Of Light” due to the several live versions performed by Camel, which are really amazing. So, I was very curious to listen to this original studio version. I must confess that it’s also great and the reason why we must check “The Answer”. However, the rest of the album is also good, despite being a little bit dated. Camel fans really should take some notice of “The Answer”. It’s one of those rare works to make you really take a huge notice of. Overall, “The Answer” is a worthwhile purchase for those who enjoy a mix of blues, soul and psychedelics. Certainly it’s the most interesting among Bardens solo albums. It’s recommended for fans of the early British blues based proto-prog.
Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)
