After the sad passing of keyboard player Carey Lander in 2015, Glasgow’s Camera Obscura went on a hiatus. Songwriter Tracyanne Campbell released the excellent Tracyanne & Danny album in 2018. Her main band has now returned with Look to the East, Look to the West – their first album since Desire Lines over 10 years ago. The new album sees the classic songwriting the band is known for. They ease into the new album with the quiet sounds of “Liberty Print” before the dream beat kicks it up as Tracyanne sings, “I thought about the time he called me up/And asked if I loved him, I wanted to hang up”.
Album highlight “Big Love” pushes the guitar to the fore on a country song that incorporates a steel guitar. New member Donna Maciocia gets a co-writing credit on the feisty anthem “We’re Going to Make It In A Man’s World” where they tell the manager to “take your report, shove it right down your throat”. The album closes with several sweet tunes including “Pop Goes Pop” and the title track.
The album runs the gamut of indie pop, country, and 50s sounds. A few of the tracks don’t quite hit the mark but then songs like “Sugar Almond” sees Tracyanne sing about missing Lander with just a piano accompaniment that tugs at the heartstrings. It’s a welcome return from a fine Scottish indie pop band.
7.5/10
The Light Appears 