FEELS: Soft and warm wool
SOUNDS: Camera Obscura at their best
We are super-excited about Camera Obscura returning after 10 years! Look to the East, Look to the West, the latest album by Camera Obscura, stands as a monumental achievement. Under the leadership of Tracyanne Campbell, the group, collaborating again with producer Jari Haapalainen, delivers an album that resonates with long-time devotees for its familiar charm, yet marks their most refined work yet. This album represents the most significant challenge Camera Obscura has faced in their journey, especially after the loss of founding member Carey Lander in 2015. The band entered a prolonged break, maintaining contact but leaving their future uncertain. However, they made a triumphant return, first announced with their participation in the Belle & Sebastian’s 2019 Boaty Weekender cruise festival, followed by two highly anticipated shows in Glasgow.
“Look to the East, Look to the West” was recorded in the iconic room where Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” was born, showcasing Camera Obscura’s heightened confidence and distinct musical identity. The album captures the essence of the band at its peak, weaving a complex tapestry of emotions that leaves listeners both melancholic and uplifted. Camera Obscura’s music has always been impactful, with numerous songs considered transformative by their fans. This album adds 11 more such tracks to their repertoire, each with the potential to be a life-altering anthem. See “Big Love” below: