Camera Obscura
Everyone’s favorite Scottish-twee band is back this year with a new album Let’s Get Out of This Country, due out June 6. Okay, maybe not everyone’s favorite–I’m sure some people probably prefer Belle and Sebastian. But after hearing a couple songs from the new album, I think we can conclusively decide that those people are wrong. Seriously.
Before I get into that, though, let me point out that the term “camera obscura” was invented by Johannes Kepler. Yes that Johannes Kepler. It’s basically a pinhole camera projected into a dark room, an ancestor of photography. So that’s unassailably cool to begin with.
As far as the music goes, they’ve always been about more than just twee. There’s definitely a Sarah Records feel to all their work, but there’s also a fair amount of soul, doo-wop, indie rock, folk, and new wave sounds going on. To hear all those influences converge into one glorious song, check out Let Me Go Home from 2004’s Underachievers Please Try Harder.
That album was good, but from what I’ve heard, the new one blows it away. I’ve got my copy pre-ordered and you should, too. In the meantime, here’s a couple songs to tide you by.
Let’s Get Out of This Country
If Looks Could Kill
It’s been beautiful here for the last week or so, and “Let’s Get Out of This Country” has been the constant soundtrack. It’s the kind of song that deserves to be played on a sunny day when you throw all your cares to the wind and just enjoy yourself.