Camera Obscura - myspace
I think that Glasgow must be the best place to see eclipses. One can almost imagine them as viewed from the top of Mackintosh's tower, or from the gates of the School of Art. Now, if you can, imagine if you looked at the eclipse whilst drinking some of Scotland's finest whiskey. For me at least, the eclipse would become a kind of mellow, relaxing and really cool experience.
So what's all this talk about eclipses? The reason I bring it up, is because Glasgow sextet Camera Obscura have been on my mind since a friend replied to a post with a suggestion to listen to them; and if you recall your elementary school days you might have looked at eclipses through a pinhole camera, otherwise known as a Camera Obscura (see, I was paying attention Miss Chin!).
I imagine that watching an eclipse while listening to one of Camera Obscura's three excellent albums Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi, Underachievers Please Try Harder, or Let's Get Out of This Country, would be the same as if I'd had a dram of great whiskey. First, the soft sounds of a clean guitar would wash over you, quickly followed by what sounds suspiciously like a Hammond through a leslie speaker. Add a slapdash of drums and you're ready for the vocals, and Tracey-Anne Campbell does know how to sing. There's almost a 50's quality to the melodies she creates, it is this je ne sais quoi that differentiates Camera Obscura from the hundreds of other female fronted indie-pop bands on the market. Where they could have become a facsimile of other indie acts, they chose instead to bring something new to the scene. Although retro in sound, the combination of 50s pop with 2000's indie rhythms is intriguing to the ear and relaxing at the same time.
They are currently touring all over Europe and will be in London in the middle of July, depending on my financial situation, I just might have to check them out. You should too. Now where'd that whiskey go?
great review! I'm liking the imagery you've evoked.
Posted by: mdr | June 24, 2008 at 06:30 AM