Look to the East, Look to the West, the latest release from Camera Obscura, heralds a new chapter for the band. Under the leadership of Tracyanne Campbell and in collaboration with Jari Haapalainen, their former producer, the group delivers a sophisticated masterpiece that rekindles the deep affection of their long-time followers and marks their most polished work yet.
This album emerges as Camera Obscura’s most challenging project, especially in the wake of founding member Carey Lander’s death in 2015. The band took a significant break but kept in touch, their future uncertain until their return was announced for Belle & Sebastian’s 2019 Boaty Weekender cruise. Joining original members for this comeback were Donna Maciocia, adding her talents on keys and vocals to the mix, and becoming a key songwriting contributor alongside Campbell.
Recorded in the historical room where Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” was penned, the album takes a grand scale approach yet simplifies their sound. Eschewing strings and brass for a focus on piano, synthesizers, Hammond organ, and drum machines, and stripping back their signature reverb, it unveils a more direct sound. The album’s country and soul influences shine through more brightly than ever, with guitars that echo into the distance and keys that linger, all while Campbell’s voice deeply explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time.
The lead single “Big Love” straddles the line between country rock and prog, serving as a heart-wrenching anthem of love lost and the struggle to move on, highlighted by Tim Davidson’s pedal steel. Another standout track, “We’re Going to Make It in a Man’s World,” co-written with Maciocia and featured in Margaret Salmon’s 2021 film “Icarus (After Amelia),” offers a poignant commentary on women’s experiences in the music industry, buoyed by steel guitar and keys.
“The Light Nights” brings a swooning, western shuffle that hits the sweet spot between honky-tonk and undiscovered California pop treasure. The album opens with “Liberty Print,” (see below) a powerful elegy wrapped around a compelling synth line, showcasing Campbell’s lyrical prowess and the band’s ability to weave grief into the fabric of pop music. “Look to the East, Look to the West” not only signifies Camera Obscura’s return but also their evolution, blending genres and emotions in their unique tapestry of sound.