Following the ambitious song cycle Nude, Camel attempted their version of an Alan Parsons Project album with The Single Factor.
Considering that Parsons was having hits that year with songs like "Eye in the Sky," it's not surprising that Camel tried to capture the same audience, yet their talent didn't lay with pop music -- it lay with atmospheric instrumentals and creating detailed soundscapes.
Consequently, The Single Factor sounds a little forced and often fails to capture the group's magic, even though there a few strong moments on the record.