Desire Lines by Camera Obscura Review: Underachievers No More

Perfection? Close, but no cigar (Credit: Camera Obscura Facebook)

Camera Obscura have certainly come a long way since they came out of nowhere to impress on debut Biggest Bluest Hi Fi in 2001 and the sensational Underachievers Please Try Harder in 2003. The retro lo-fi sounds of yesteryear, along with John Henderson’s warm vocal pairings, that drew inevitable comparisons with fellow Glaswegians Belle & Sebastian were ultimately replaced with lush, wistful twee-pop in 2006’s Let’s Get Out Of This Country and 2009’s My Maudlin Career, which were well-received efforts that had critics waxing lyrical about the group's growth and new-found confidence.

The quintet has invariably stumbled upon an infectious combo of complementing its trademark breezy, stylish jangle-pop with a few noticeably slower ballads, a formula that continues on its latest record Desire Lines. Swinging lead single ‘Do It Again’ follows the grand traditions of its contemporaries ‘Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken’ and ‘French Navy’, although subtle lyricism takes a backseat to catchy hooks and dramatic sexual references this time around. Frontwoman Tracyanne Campbell’s deadpan yet emotive delivery and eye for witty pop culture name dropping remains an integral part of what Camera Obscura do, and she’s in imperious form on the Neko Case-assisted ‘Fifth in Line to the Throne’ and the saxophone-heavy ‘This is Love (Feels Alright)’.

From the groovy disco-tinged ‘Troublemaker’ to the jazzy Billy Joel-mentioning ‘I Missed Your Party’, Camera Obscura’s uncanny ability to make melodies and styles from the ’50s and ’60s sound fresh and timeless is once again apparent on Desire Lines. This is a gem of a fifth album by a consistent band that already boasts one of the most formidable catalogues in recent indie-pop.

Verdict 7.5/10 poppys

Camera Obscura will be touring with She & Him to Chicago, Ann Arbor, Ottawa, Philadelphia, Boston and Vienna in June and July. We here at Poppy Deeds highly recommend these Scots, having seen them live in Melbourne's Corner Hotel in 2010, when Campbell mistakenly exclaimed 'hello Sydney' to grave silence. For more on the band, go here.