Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of This Country

TRACKLIST: 01. Lloyd, I’m ready to be heartbroken 02. Tears for affairs 03. Come back Margaret 04. Dory Previn 05. The false contender 06. Let’s get out of this country 07. Country mile 08. If looks could kill 09. I need all the friends I can get 10. Razzle dazzle Rose

Slowly but firmly, winning the love of the in-crowd with great songs, good taste and a passion for music, CAMERA OBSCURA have grown to become an important name in the international pop scene. More than 50.000 copies sold to this moment are good prove of their ascending career, and seeing how many good songs are included on this new album we can only expect their progression to keep rising more and more. With the highlight of recent sold-out shows in New York and SXSW, witnessed by high profile fans Mike Myers and Conor Oberst (BRIGHT EYES), the eyes of the international pop scene are set on "Let's get out of this country": a collection of ten perfect pop songs, absolutely no filler, where the band from Glasgow looks at classic pop through country and soul tinted lenses, influenced by a wide variety of heroes - from Jimmy Webb to Lloyd Cole, from Connie Francis to Skeeter Davis, from the SUPREMES to David Lynch.

In Autumn 2005, Camera Obscura travelled from Glasgow to Stockholm to begin work on their third album with acclaimed producer Jari Haapalainen (Ed Harcourt, THE CONCRETES, INTERNATIONAL (NOISE) CONSPIRACY), and the choice couldn't be more positive. Besides the good job done by Haapalainen behind the desk, in Sweden CAMERA OBSCURA were surrounded by a great team of people with whom they've worked in the country's best studios: some of the string musicians have recently toured with Brian Wilson or Arthur Lee & LOVE; the album was recorded in the same studios where Neneh Cherry or Robyn have previously recorded, and it was mixed at the same place used by THE MAGIC NUMBERS or Per Gessle from ROXETTE fame. Among the contributors to this album we find Victoria Bergsman from THE CONCRETES, singer-songwriter Brita Persson or members of Swedish pop bands such as THE TOURETTES, LAAKSO or SPEEDMARKET AVENUE.

These ten romantic, melodic pop songs (there's songs in here that you can sing along to forever) start with the first single, "Lloyd, I'm ready to be heartbroken", a country soul track with a fantastic ending. "Tears for affairs", the next song, is a ballad with organ and accordion, which seems as if it had been written in the early 60's, and "Come back Margaret" has got a delicious girl-band atmosphere, and a melody that could have been taken from an indie-pop 45 from the early 80's. On "Dory Previn" they go back to the country pop style they feel so comfortable with, whilst "The false contender" is a romantic track with a waltz beat, and "Let's get out of this country" goes back to the classic, sunny pop style. On "Country mile" the cozy atmosphere grows slowly with the help of the beautiful string arrangements. "If looks could kill" is destined to be danced to death in the best pop clubs anywhere in the world, with an unbeatable Motown beat and a Phil Spector atmosphere, and "I need all the friends I can get" " is a funny, careless soul song with a midtempo beat. Finally, on "Razzle dazzle rose" Tracyanne sings from afar, with a lot of echo, as if she was waving goodbye to us and to this timeless album, delicately orchestrated, with which we're sure CAMERA OBSCURA  will confirm the importance of their song legacy. These are songs that last forever, that will go with you forever.

CAMERA OBSCURA is a new product from the neverending pop music factory that is Glasgow. Formed back in 1996, two years later they released their debut single, "Park Ride", on Scottish label Andmoresound. The only vinyl limited edition would quickly be out of print. By the end of 1998 a second single is released, "Your Sound". On both singles they recruited  their friend Richard Colburn ( BELLE & SEBASTIAN) on drums, and later on both are compiled on a mini-CD on Japanese label Quattro with the title "Rare UK Bird".

In the year 2000 they enter the studio in order to lay down the tracks for their debut album, "Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi", at Glasgow's mythical Cava studios. Sound engineering tasks are taken by Geoff Allan, a renown name in the Scottish music scene who has also worked with such illustrious fellow citizens as MOGWAI, TEENAGE FANCLUB, THE DELGADOS, ARAB STRAP, B&S. "Eighties Fan", the first single and their first hit song, is a perfect description of their sound: a delicious female voice, not far from that of the early Tracey Thorn (EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL), Astrud Gilberto or Harriet Wheeler (THE SUNDAYS), and a strong personality that reminded of Dusty Springfield, Nancy Sinatra or Bobbie Gentry; acoustic guitars and relaxing moods; a breathtaking string arrangement; and a simply unforgettable melody. To make things even more attractive, production was directed by Stuart Murdoch, of BELLE & SEBASTIAN fame. It became Single of the Week in "Record Collector" magazine, whilst John Peel and Steve Lamacq played it plenty times in their shows.

The rest of the album is a superb collection of acoustic pop songs where we can easily trace the influence of their friends from B&S. Stuart is back on the list of collaborators, composing the subtle string arrangements and directing the excellent videoclip for "Eighties Fan". The album is very well received by the media, is chosen as Album of the Week on both XFM and the Rough Trade Shops, and becomes one of the all-time best-sellers in the history of Prime Distribution. "Eighties Fan" reaches number 8 on John Peel's Festive 50 list, and Peel also invites them to perform on his 2001 Christmas party show, along with MELYS and GORKYS ZYGOTIC MYNCI. Their relationship with Peel was very close, and they recorded three Peel Sessions during their short career.

In Spain, the media had a spectacular reaction to the release of the album, and taking advantage of this they visited the Southern shores several times during 2002, performing at the main festivals as well as in some of the main Spanish cities. In total, more than five thousand fans got to see them that year.

On July 25, 2003, Elefant releases "Teenager", advance single for the second album, "Underachievers please try harder" (released worldwide through Elefant Records), and they present it live in August at the Benicassim Festival (FIB). Artwork is done by Divine INC, and the pictures on the album are signed once more by Stuart Murdoch. In January 2004 "Underachievers please try harder" is released in the USA, via the great American Merge Records (LAMBCHOP, THE CLIENTELE, THE MAGNETIC FIELDS). The album reaches the top of the independent lists on the second week after its release, and that summer the band tours extensively throughout the States.In May, Elefant releases "Keep It Clean", second single taken from the album, featuring two extra tracks: "San Francisco Song" and "Amigo Mío", the first song they ever wrote in Spanish. Also included is an extra track with the videoclip of "Teenager", directed by Blair Young, who is usually found directing B&S videos and who also participated in the making of "Eighties Fan", CAMERA OBSCURA's first videoclip.

On february 28th 2005 they release a new single, "I love my Jean", featuring three new songs honouring the work of poet Robert Burns (1759-1796), considered to be Scotland's national poet. The single is also a posthumous tribute to BBC DJ John Peel, who helped and befriended the band since their first single.

In June 2005, the song "Suspended from class" is featured on the chapter "Girls in bikinis, boys doin' the twist" from the fourth season of the Gilmore Girls TV series. Another song by the band, "Keep it clean", is aired on "The shower", a chapter from another American TV series, "The O.C.".

In January 2006 "Suspended from class" is also included in the original soundtrack of "Imagine me & you", a comedy presented by Ealing Studios and BBC Films. The movie is starred by actress Piper Perabo, and her male counterpart is played by Matthew Goode, well known for having played Gerald Brennan in cult movie "South", directed by Fernando Colomo, but much better known internationally for his part in "Match Point", the latest movie by Woody Allen.