If you Google the band Camel, it will lead you into a rabbit hole of discovery about the ‘70s British prog rock band. While they didn’t achieve mass success, the group has been viewed by enthusiasts as unsung heroes of the genre, leaving their mark on artists like Marillion and Steven Wilson.
And now, two modern-day American virtuosos, IAN GOTHE and FERNANDO PERDOMO, have taken 11 iconic Camel tracks and given them a fresh makeover on NEVER LET GO—A Tribute to Camel. Due out September 27 via the Think Like A Key Music label, the 11-track sonic oasis features imaginative takes on the band’s classics like “Never Let Go” (from 1973) “Air Born” (1976), and “City Life” (1981). See the album’s track listing below. Pre-order NEVER LET GO—A Tribute to Camel at https://tlak.rocks/neverletgo.
GOTHE and PERDOMO share two new samples of the reimagined tracks: the stimulating single/title track “Never Let Go”—out digitally now HERE—and an animated video for “City Life,” which can be seen streaming below or via YouTube HERE.
From devoted Camel-ites to prog neophytes, NEVER LET GO offers something for everyone. It’s not just a tribute; it’s a love letter to prog rock, a masterclass in musicianship, and a journey through time and space. It’s where Prog Past Meets Prog Future.
“I was fortunate to be induced to Camel’s music at a young age and it greatly affected me at every level,” says IAN. “Camel’s music became the soundtrack to my life. Whenever I meet another Camel fan, as I did while working on a shorter cover of Camel’s ‘Air Born’ on my album Memento with Fernando, I found another soul who had been touched by this music as deeply as I had. Making a Camel tribute album has been a long-time dream of mine and now just seemed like a natural progression for us to make it happen together. Our ultimate hope and goal? That this project will continue to give Camel’s gift of music to new ears, so that Camel’s talent, message and efforts never die.”
“When I started working on Ian’s Memento album, I was delighted to see that it had a Camel cover,” explains FERNANDO. “We have since bonded on our love of Camel, Steve Hackett, and other melodic progressive rock bands. To hear Camel is to love Camel. Unfortunately, not enough people have even heard of Camel, especially in the States. So making this record will hopefully help shine a light on the amazing music the band has made in their five-decade history. Ian and I are just two massive Camel fans who truly have enjoyed making these great songs our own.”
NEVER LET GO was produced and engineered by PERDOMO and GOTHE, mixed and mastered by Zach Ziskin, and recorded in Los Angeles at Sherman Oaks-based Forward Motion Studios. GOTHE’s credits on the album: vocal, 6 & 12-string acoustic guitar, classical guitar, flute, bass, tanpura. PERDOMO’s credits: electric guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, electric sitar, harmony vocal
The album’s sonic highlights include:
- A veritable prog orchestra: 6 & 12-string guitars, flute, bass, tanpura, keyboards, drums, and electric sitar
- Dave Kerzner’s keyboard wizardry on “Never Let Go”
- Durga McBroom of Pink Floyd lending ethereal vocals to “Another Night”
NEVER LET GO is proof, you might say, that you can teach an old Camel new tricks. It’s the perfect soundtrack for your next desert trek or interstellar journey.
Here’s the track listing for NEVER LET GO—A Tribute to Camel by IAN GOTHE and FERNANDO PERDOMO:
1. Another Night 6:50
Latimer, Bardens, Ward, Ferguson
2. Refugee 4:46
Latimer, Hoover
3. Spirit Of The Water 2:52
Bardens
4. Preparation 5:40
Latimer, Bardens
5. Air Born 5:09
Latimer, Bardens
6. Never Let Go 6:23
Latimer
7. Rahyader 3:11
Latimer, Bardens
8. Slow Yourself Down 5:33
Latimer, Ward
9. Sanctuary 1:49
Latimer, Bardens
10. Fritha 2:00
Latimer, Bardens
11. City Life 4:49
Latimer, Hoover
ABOUT IAN GOTHE:
Born to an Armenian family in Iran, Ian Gothe spent much of his adolescence traveling across continents in search of a home. A childhood filled with loss and loneliness provided the impetus for Gothe to continually turn to music as his friend and confidant. His initial inspiration came from a recording of the Doors “Spanish Caravan,” a song well known for its complex and compelling guitar rifts that still capture audience’s attention today. Gothe was not immune, and his petition for a guitar of his own was driven by his desire to play those well-worn, haunting lines with ease. After Gothe and his hard-won guitar left Iran before the revolution, the 14 year old lived with family in England and later made his way to the United States by way of a year in Baltimore before finally settling in Los Angeles, where he lives today.
Gothe’s musical career has been marked by false starts and missed opportunities, a reality not unexpected for a young man in the throes of wandering and learning about both music and life on his own. In his twenties Gothe composed a high-energy dance song “Cleopatra” produced by Christian De Walden, that became a number one hit in Italy. Years of career pursuits and family life relegated music to an occasional hobby, but after the dissolution of his 20-year marriage, Gothe returned to music, his first love. Allowing him to create projects from both his heart and soul. Citing the influences of British bands such as Camel and Genesis, and many less well-known musicians, Gothe’s style is an eclectic triumph that fuses not only musical genres but also crosses language barriers as well with songs that feature both English and his native Armenian.
Gothe brings to his compositions and arrangements a depth that can only be found in those who have longed for something and dedicated themselves to the search for answers to life’s questions. The devotion to his craft is apparent in his careful attention to detail that is married to his holistic vision of art and music as avenues for cultivating inspiration. Gothe’s understanding of music transcends the notes themselves, and he reminds us that “there is beauty in silence “ when he leaves uncharacteristic space between each track for the music to breathe. The artistic choices that Gothe makes as he constructs each piece are evidence of an artist who has emerged from a journey, confident and ready to create from a place of authentic introspection.
Ian Gothe’s first full-length album, Memento, released by Blackbird Record Label, organizes around the eternal human question of belonging. This collection of both self-composed inspirations and masterful covers is a personal pilgrimage through Gothe’s life, where each song serves to mark the experiences and emotions that have defined his journey from wandering youth to accomplished musician in Los Angeles.
The album, a serendipitous and welcome collaboration with GRAMMY award- winning producer Jim Scott, is Gothe’s long-overdue musical rebirth that perhaps makes his earlier wanderings almost worthwhile. They say that good things come to those who wait. This has been true for Gothe’s artistic vision, as well as those who have had the opportunity to travel this lyrical trek with him. “Memento” features performances by all-star musicians Derek Frank (Shania Twain, Gwen Stefani), Fernando Perdomo (Jakob Dylan, Fiona Apple), Tamir Barzilay (Macy Gray, Tal Wilkenfeld), Sam Babayan (The Dirty Diamond). Upon hearing Gothe’s cover of “Spanish Caravan”, Robby Krieger of the Doors, endorsed his cover and the video was premiered on Guitar Player.
Gothe’s musical homecoming in Memento is a fitting creation for him to share his experience with the world and to remind himself that despite the meandering nature of his journey and the pain and loss that he sustained along the way, the music is itself his inspiration and the place that he can always call home.
About Fernando Perdomo:
Fernando Perdomo is a powerhouse of the LA music scene who lives and breathes music LA Weekly dubbed him as “The millennial answer to Todd Rundgren.” A veteran at 37, he has made a name for himself as an in-demand producer, singer/songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He is a featured guitarist in the Netflix documentary “Echo In The Canyon” where his is seen backing up Jakob Dylan, Fiona Apple, Brian Wilson, Norah Jones, Regina Spektor, Cat Power, and Jade Castrinos. He is also played on every track on the official soundtrack album of the film along with Eric Clapton, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Josh Homme as well as the aforementioned artists.
Fernando is an acclaimed recording artist with releases in the Singer Songwriter, Rock, Progressive Rock, and Classical genres. His Out to Sea trilogy was released on Cherry Red Records with album covers by Genesis artist Paul Whitehead. His album Zebra Crossing was recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. He has opened for Todd Rundgren, Leon Russell, Filter, Adrian Belew, and Kasim Sulton
As a session guitarist and bassist, he has played on three number 1 Albums from Christian Castro, Paulina Rubio, and Tego Calderon. He has played on records by Jakob Dylan, Linda Perhacs, Emitt Rhodes, Todd Rundgren, Ruby Friedman, Curved Air, Louise Goffin, Dave Kerzner, Creed Bratton, Elizaveta, Hilary McCrae, Andy Pratt, Jorge Moreno, Beny More and many more. He has performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Late Show with James Corden, Good Morning America, The Today Show, NPR’s Live From The World Cafe, and Sabado Gigante.
Fernando owns and operates Stairway Studios in Los Angeles. He has produced hundreds of records. He has also created music for commercials for Target, McDonalds, Honda, Toyota, Dunkin Donuts, Coca Cola, and Goya. Library music created by Perdomo has bee used in Dexter, CNN’s The 90s, Pitbull’s and Parolees, Melrose Place, Real Housewives, Bone Collector, and many more.
Fernando has performed at Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, The Greek Theater, Vina Del Mar Festival, Cruise To The Edge, On The Blue Cruise, American Airlines Arena, The Fillmore Miami, Sunfest, SXSW, CMJ, and The NAMM Show.
Fernando is endorsed by Guild Guitars, Sparxx Guiatars, Shabat Guitars, Magnatone Amps, IK Multimedia, Hotone Pedals, Valeton Pedals, and Visual Sound Effects.
Connect with IAN GOTHE at:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM
Connect with FERNANDO PERDOMO at:
