Camera Obscura – New single, album & tour news
Camera Obscura announce a new single, the forthcoming album release of My Maudlin Career (out on April 20th 2009) and tour dates in both the UK and US. They are also making the title track available to download as of today.
Prior to releasing the album, comes the single, ‘French Navy’, out a week before the album on April 13th. You won’t have to wait until then to hear new music though as the new album’s title track is available to hear on both the band’s website and MySpace page now. It is also being gifted as a free download for those who sign up to the band’s new mailing list and from iTunes.
Finally, the quick will have already spotted that they have already announced two warm-up shows in March (London and New York) and that they are playing at this year’s SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas. However, not announced until today is the news that the band will play a hometown show at Glasgow Barrowlands Ballroom and a return to the capital with a Shepherds Bush Empire headline show…
Mon 16th March – The Lexington, London
Weds 18th March – SXSW, Austin, Texas (Details to follow)
Tues 24th March – The Bell House, New York
Thurs 23rd April – Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London (Tickets on sale from 10th Feb at 9am from here)
Sun 26th April – Barrowlands Ballroom, Glasgow (Tickets on sale from 12th Feb at 9am from here).
CAMERA OBSCURA MY MAUDLIN CAREER
RELEASED APRIL 20th 2009
1. French Navy
2. The Sweetest Thing
3. You Told A Lie
4. Away With Murder
5. Swans
6. James
7. Careless Love
8. My Maudlin Career
9. Forest And Sands
10. Other Towns And Cities
11. Honey In The Sun
The Big Pink, Broken Records & Camera Obscura sign to 4AD
4AD announced three new signings to the label with The Big Pink, Broken Records and Camera Obscura all joining the roster. No more other details were given but I am sure soon we will hear more.
Camera Obscura – If Looks Can Kill
This doesn’t happen to often. “If Looks Could Kill” is the third single from the band’s marvelous album “Lets Get Out Of This Country.” Being the third single usually you get a good track but nothing more really. The bass line really gets you tapping that foot. The production is smooth and tight, the horns make a nice addition, and it almost feels like something out the 60s and it makes you want to do some very awkward dance. “If Looks Could Kill” is another top notch blast of pop from this Scottish bunch, from one of the best albums of 06.
By John Siwicki
Camera Obscura – Let’s Get Out Of This Country
Formed in 1996, Camera Obscura have been making soft-rock for a relatively long time now, and their third album “Let’s Get Out of This Country” is an excellent 39 minute long journey through some wonderfully crafted songs.
The opener, which is also the first single, “Lloyd, I’m Ready to be Heartbroken”, is one of the highlights of the album. A lonely organ gives no indication of the upbeat song that is about to come; it swings and sways about in a beautiful way, with a chorus that you won’t realise you’re singing. This is one of the many talents that Camera Obscura have; they have a way of wrapping songs around your head when you don’t have an idea just how good the song itself is. Tracyanne Campbell’s vocals fit the song perfectly; sounding very innocent yet at the same time still soaring above the music. Second song “Tears for Affairs” is a more laid-back song, built around a delicious organ part that sticks in your head for days; again one of the highlights that starts show off the variety that this band have in their song writing. “Come Back Margaret” seems to have no discernible chorus, or pattern, yet it’s still beautiful, with its towering fiddles and ethereal feel. “Dory Previn” slows the tempo of the album down with a bluesy feel. “So I think it’s time/I put him out of my mind”; the instrumental section is filled up by an ideal guitar solo. It’s not particularly skilful, yet it brings something different again to their sound and fits the music just right. “I once had love/But soon had enough/Because he was a false contender”. “The False Contender” continues in a similar vein to “Dory Previn” with slight adjustments to tempo. It’s the most restrained of their songs, yet is still something that you can sing and hum along to; the organ part is again, just ideal for the song.
The title track breezes in now, providing a change from the organ-led, downbeat previous two. “What does the city have to offer me?/I just can’t see.” shows Campbell’s wish to leave where she’s situated, but around the negative connotations of the lyrics, delicate, airy melodies build up a beautiful song fully deserving to have the album named after it. Camera Obscura are clearly a band blessed with an excellent song writing ability; when you hear songs like these, you’ll wonder why they’re not bigger than they actually are. Some might dismiss them as twee, but not many could create these songs.
“If Looks Could Kill” bursts in with some good drum work and a bass line that you just can’t help tapping you feet to; this is another highlight of a varied album. It’s definitely a song to get up on the dancefloor to – forget your guitar groups, this is perfect for it. The production on this track is excellent; many instruments are used at once, yet the vocals still glide above everything. “I Need All The Friends