Lets Get Out of this Country
I love Camera Obscura, it's as simple as that. Ever since I bought Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi in 1999, I've had a special place in my heart for this band. Sure they always get lumped in with Belle and Sebastian, and while some of the songs might sound similar and Tracyanne may have dated Stuart, Camera Obscura are just a bit better than Glasgow's biggest band.
They are way more personable than B&S could ever hope to be. Having met them in 2004 at Mergefest, I can attest that they are among the nicest Glaswegians I have ever met (and I've known and erm dated a few!). Some of the best musical conversations I ever had were in front of the Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill and in Washington DC at the 9:30 Club w/Nigel, John, and Gavin.
After they finished the tour they went back to Glasgow and in the fall of 2005, Camera Obscura traveled to Stockholm to begin work on a new album with acclaimed producer Jari Haapalainen (The Concretes, Ed Harcourt, Nicolai Dunger, International (Noise) Conspiracy). Influenced by a wide variety of heroes - from Jimmy Webb to Lloyd Cole, from Connie Francis to Skeeter Davis, from the Supremes to David Lynch - lead singer/songwriter Traceyanne Campell and crew have assembled a remarkable batch of new songs. Decidely upbeat, optimistic, a bit different, and catchy at times ("If Looks Could Kill", "Lloyd I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken"), while also beautifully romantic, quiet and reflective at others ("Country Mile", "Dory Previn"), the new album - Let's Get Out Of This Country - is the sound of a wonderful young band just hitting their stride. Look for it from Merge Records in June 2006.
Until then enjoy a look back and a sampling of the new album from one of the coolest tweest bands ever.
From Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi...
From Underachievers Please Try Harder...
From Lets Get Out of This Country...
The new album comes out on June 6th. The fine folks at Merge are releasing it, and you should most definitely buy it.
From the Variety Pub in Glasgow...
Paul the Anglophile
posted by Paul POP! at 2:13 AM
3 Comments:
don't forget the ever so essential 'i don't do crowds' and the theme song to the tv show that is my life: 'let's go bowling.'
i adore you even more.
:)
4/26/2006 1:18 AM
much bizarreness ... i read this blog nearly every day from an office just round the corner from the variety! altho' i've not been back in since the "lipstick smattered glass" incident of 2002.
4/27/2006 9:26 AM
Oh don't feel bad...I was pick-pocketed IN the Variety...so its good see there are plenty of good experiences there. Ha.
4/27/2006 12:57 PM
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