Camera Obscura

The Scottish ensemble Camera Obscura formed in 1996, when vocalist Tracyanne Campbell, percussionist John Henderson, bassist Gavin Dunbar, and guitarist David Skirving began creating lush indie pop with orchestral flourishes and romantic lyrics. They went on to release a number of singles, one of which included contributions from Belle & Sebastian's Richard Colburn, whose band served as a stylistic touchstone for the young Camera Obscura. Three years after the band's first releases, Lee Thompson joined the lineup as a permanent drummer and David Skirving jumped ship, only to be replaced by Kenny McKeeve. Keyboardist Lindsey Boyd also climbed aboard not long afterward, defining the band as a six-piece.Camera Obscura received an influential endorsement from John Peel in 2001, when the British DJ deemed them one of the most promising bands of the year. Their first full-length album, Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi, was released the following year through the AndMoreSound Records catalog, with production help from Belle & Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch. Trumpeter and percussionist Nigel Baile joined the band soon afterward, swelling their ranks to seven. The group's next effort, the luminescent Underachievers Please Try Harder, was released by Spanish label Elefant in 2003; an American release followed in 2004 by the stalwart label Merge, which also reissued Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi. For the band's third John Peel session in early 2004, they were asked to put music to the words of Scottish poet Robert Burns, a task they enjoyed so much they ended up recording studio versions of two of the songs: "I Love My Jean" and "Red, Red Rose."After touring the world and reaping critical success, the band returned to Scotland and suffered two losses: first, the death of Peel, one of their biggest supporters; second, the defection of John Henderson. The band released the I Love My Jean single as a tribute to the late Peel in early 2005 and decamped as a six-piece to Sweden to record with noted producer Jari Haapalainen. The resulting album, Let's Get Out of This Country, was released in June of 2006 on Merge and Elefant. A series of singles and EPs followed, culminating in the release of 2009's full-length My Maudlin Career (amazon.com).

Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi - 2002



1. Happy New Year
2. Eighties Fan
3. Houseboat
4. Pen And Notebook
5. Swimming Pool
6. Anti Western
7. I Dont Do Crowds
8. The Sun On His Back
9. Double Feature
10. Arrangements Of Shapes And Space

Good Music!

Underachievers Please Try Harder - 2004



1. Suspended From Class
2. Keep It Clean
3. A Sister's Social Agony
4. Teenager
5. Before You Cry
6. Your Picture
7. Number One Son
8. Let Me Go Home
9. Books Written for Girls
10. Knee Deep at the NPL
11. Lunar Sea
12. I Don't Want to See You
13. Footloose and Fancy Free

Good Music!

Let's Get Out Of This Country - 2006



1. Lloyd, I'm Ready to be Heartbroken
2. Tears for Affairs
3. Come Back Margaret
4. Dory Previn
5. The False Contender
6. Let's Get Out of This Country
7. Country Mile
8. If Looks Could Kill
9. I Need All the Friends I Can Get
10. Razzle Dazzle Rose

Good Music!

Tears For Affair - 2007



1. Tears for Affairs
2. Last Song

Good Music!

If Looks Could Kill - 2007



1. If Looks Could Kill
2. Hands Up Baby
3. Alaska

Good Music!

My Maudlin Career - 2009



01. French Navy
02. The Sweetest Thing
03. You Told a Lie
04. Away With Murder
05. Swans
06. James
07. Careless Love
08. My Maudlin Career
09. Forest and Sands
10. Other Towns and Cities
11. Honey in the Sun

Good Music!