Camera Obscura, the Glaswegian indie pop icons, have made a mighty return with their latest album, Look to the East, Look to the West, which draws on deep emotions for its boldest and most reflective work to date. Released under Merge Records, the album is the band’s first new music in ten years after an extended hiatus following the tragic passing of founding keyboardist and friend Carey Lander in 2015.
Learning how to continue with the loss of Carey, the band returns with a fresh musical output that melds together real-life experience with eclectic taste into their inventive songwriting. The elegant and well-versed ensemble musicianship, with intricate twists, draws on varied instrumentation, including the glockenspiel and steel pedals, and steps back from their previously reverb-laden sound, letting the colourful voice of front person Traceyanne do the talking.
The expansive sound of Look to the East, Look to the West offers the country-leaning prog-rock influenced Big Love or the tongue-in-cheek message of We’re Going To Make It In The World Today (written for the film Icarus (After Amelia) in 2021), showcasing Camera Obscura’s honeyed melodies and retro-pop stylings. The album also includes a bonus CD containing five demos and is housed in a gatefold sleeve with a stock inner, exclusive to Rough Trade in an opaque purple vinyl version.
For fans of indie-pop bands such as Belle and Sebastian, Rilo Kiley, Lloyd Cole, and Fiona Apple, Camera Obscura’s latest offering is a must-hear. To listen to the album’s lead single, “Big Love,” with its official music video, check out their YouTube channel.
Those interested may also want to browse Rough Trade’s full list of Edit titles and listen to/follow their dedicated Album of the Month Spotify playlist. Additionally, Rough Trade Club members can receive exclusive discounts and benefits, including free shipping at roughtrade.com and early access to events and online offers. To get the latest Album of the Month delivered directly to your door, subscribe to Rough Trade Club + New Music
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