Camera Obscura

The Scottish band Camera Obscura assembled in 1996 and held their first rehearsals in the cellar of the house belonging to the parents of one of the members. As they started, the musicians managed to do without a constant drummer and, playing in such incomplete form, recorded two singles, Park and Ride, and Your Sound, for the Scottish market only, and later, an EP, called Rare UK Bird, exclusively for Japan. As late as in 2000, the group finally found a man to occupy the drum kit. For a long period of time, Camera Obscura used to perform live only on their home land in Glasgow, too afraid to show what themselves beyond the capital. In their hometown, the musicians felt really confident and regularly received invitations to play at big events sharing the stage with some of celebrated acts, including Snow Patrol. Camera Obscura issued their debut album, Biggest Blues Hi Fi, in Scotland at their own expenses late in 2000. It took them a year to make the record available in the other parts of the United Kingdom. The album was also delivered to the markets of Japan, Spain and Australia.

In 2001, Camera Obscura went on their first massive tour across the UK and, in a year, they visited Spain to play their concerts, too. Although, a long time in active music business, the group continued having troubles with the lineup constantly going through changes, which affected both studio and stage productivity. The situation reached stability only in 2003 after the band absorbed Nigel Baillie, a trumpeter and percussionist. Soon, the musicians were through with their sophomore full-length record that was called Underachievers Please Try Harder, and the single Teenager. This was followed by tour over Ireland and Great Britain, the longest one in the band’s history by that time. At last, the American audience grew interested in what Camera Obscura were doing, which motivated the Elefant company to release the group’s second album in the States. Right after that, Camera Obscura arranged a huge concert campaign in the USA and Canada visiting the most remote parts of the North America continent, including California, Georgia and Quebec. This journey sucked all strength out of the participants and made them able to play only one more concert on return to Scotland. This was a special event dedicated to the sixty fifth anniversary of the outfit’s greatest helper and supporter, John Peal, head of a big radio station that promoted the band to stardom. This was the moment to lock up in the studio and start working in the third long player.

The making of this album dragged out, which resulted in Camera Obscura releasing only the single I Love My Jean in 2005 instead of the much anticipated full length work. The musicians took numerous breaks from the studio process to delight their fans with irregular concerts. That was the time when the group made their first visit to Sweden where they gave two shows and found new supporters among the local music lovers. In May 2006, the first single from the upcoming album surfaced. Called Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken, this composition convinced the audience that the fresh record would not let them down. Let's Get Out of This Country was recorded and mixed in Sweden granting top sound quality. In terms of music, the group offered the material barely different from their previous works, again playing optimistic indie rock as it was. Three more years later, Camera Obscura released another studio album, My Maudlin Career, so much similar to its predecessors and, at the same time, attractive and proficient.