Let's Get Out of This Country

Best traditions of Scottish indie-pop

Camera Obscura formed in Glasgow in 1996, releasing a slew of singles leading up to their debut CD Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi (2001). The band slowly built up a loyal following in their native land, including the likes of legendary BBC DJ John Peel, who championed the band early on. Merge Records released Camera Obscura's U.S. debut, Under Achievers Please Try Harder in the winter of 2004. Indie pop fans across North America quickly became hooked on Camera Obscura's lovely, enchanting melodies and undeniable hooks. One of Camera Obscura's finest attributes is consistency. There's hardly a dud to be found in their catalog, and their similarly styled songs distinguish themselves the old-fashioned way – with memorable melodies and unique lyrics. Pleasantly, that ethos remains mostly unchanged on their third album Let’s Get Out Of This Country; there are few subtle changes to the band's sound, and only one of them is more than cosmetic. With John Henderson's departure, lead vocal duties now rest entirely on Tracyanne Campbell, relieving the music of a measure of contrast. Campbell, however, has more than enough charm to fill the role herself, and so while Henderson's departure shifts the nature of the group, it isn't for the worse.

Let’s Get Out Of This Country guides your heart to beat along

It's not hard to see why Camera Obscura picked Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken to be the opening track on their album, and the single that heralds its arrival. A blissful, sunshine-strewn, lemonade-slugging pop song, it's impossible to hear it without instantly feeling jolly. She may be describing the collapse of a relationship, but when Traceyanne sings "I can't see further than my own nose at this moment", she makes jealousy and solipsism sound like huge fun. Tears For Affairs starts off with a sultry intro then Tracyanne takes over and guides your heart to beat along with her charming vocal inflections that goes up and down at the most appropriate of unexpected times. Come Back Margaret brings back the orchestra sound (as in Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken) and is paced by the bubbling bass lines. From there, other highlights on the album would be Dory Previn, Let’s Get Out Of This Country, Country Mile, If Looks Could Kill (they kind of crank up the decibels on this one), and Razzle Dazzle Rose.

Camera Obscura’s truly enchanting album

Let’s Get Out Of This Country is a successful walk back down Camera Obscura’s memory lane. Continuing the charming heart broken songs found on their prior two releases, Let’s Get Out Of This Country should keep their fans happy and pickup a few more along the way. If this review could be one word long, that word would be "enchanting." Camera Obscura has always been lovely but they've made the jump to truly enchanting with album, Let’s Get Out Of This Country. Success of this excellent album all the more expected because it's done with Swedish producer Jari Haapalainen, one of the most popular pop troubadours’ helper, who's used to bringing out the best in this genre from The Concretes to Ed Harcourt. He’s also known for his guitar-work with Bear Quartet, one of Sweden’s most creative pop bands. Stepping fully out of the shadow of their onetime glaswegian patrons Belle&Sebastian, the group has composed and performed an album that is comparable to Belle&Sebastian' best and ranks with the best indie pop albums ever.