The swirling, melodic and brassy pop sound of CAMERA OBSCURA is back with a vengeance, complete with more mature subject matter that is given a full, wistful treatment in this beautiful collection of thoughtful songs.
Serious snapshots and illicit liasons are treated with a detachment that knows the reek of the same old dirty routine of selling yourself too cheap, the pattern now so obvious that it goes beyond hurt. The maturity lies in an awareness of the pattern and an oddly sentimental take on what can only end in tears. Here though, the strength is with the singer, whose forlorn tired recollections recall men breaking down distraught just beyond the last chance saloon.
Accordion splashes the keyboard kitsch sound that carries the empty pain of these memories so superbly as they are recalled one by one. Where eccentric melancholy sidesteps, it is to let a fresh breeze of effortless bouncing pop take this cloud’s silver lining and make it shine. The title track floats unselfconsciously in a touching celebration of escapism, with the echoing pound of the drums set deep back into the mix giving depth to this perfect pop during the subtle drop-outs.
‘Tears For Affairs’ scrapes and drags its feelings over the whirling Hammond, and wallows in the pain of infidelity, yet the tears will not come. Undoubtedly the album’s strongest track, it is filled with such absolute resignation that you feel it hit the same spot in you somewhere, and that is a skill and a half!
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The simplicity in places is just a gateway into the heart of it all. The cyclic hurdy-gurdy of ‘Come Back Margaret’ is trance inducing, but no longer blinded by love. Tremelo abuse sinks the guitar deep into the mix, which in turn sits deep in your head. Hammond and sleigh bells stand at the helm of folkish sea shanty ‘False Contender’, and disappointment becomes calmed by the waves, or sleepers.
The rockabilly opening of ‘I Need All The Friends I Can Get’ gives way to stacatto handclapping, leaving Tracyanne’s voice out on a gorgeous limb as she breathes beautifully imperfect soul through the song.
The brassy crescendo is like a blinding light: tradition, beauty and rays of hope are all mixed up together in the cinematic finale. It’s a fine album alright.
As Vinny Jones might add: “It’s been emotional”.
www.camera-obscura.net
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