Camera Obscura @ The Talking Heads, Southampton 18.10.08
October 21, 2008 by Daniel Clark
Just before I start this review, I would like to state that I’m a huge fan of Camera Obscura and whilst I will try my best to be impartial and review them as fairly as I can, I doubt I will be able to. So here goes:
Camera Obscura are better than Jesus.
OK, they might not be that good, but they are pretty close. I waited a long time to see them and they didn’t disappoint, playing the type of understated subtle indie pop that is the hardest to pull off. They really are very good.
They took to the stage a little late after confessing to staying and watching the X Factor final. I forgave them for that because they launched straight into a fantastic rendition of ‘If Looks Could Kill’. From then on they never let up, playing a really good mix of their entire catalogue, including what is widely regarded as their best song, ’80’s fan’, which I have to say was pretty much perfect. They also did ‘The Sun On His Back’ from their first album, ‘Biggest Bluest HiFi’. Unfortunately they didn’t play my personal favourite ‘I Don’t Do Crowds’, but that’s only a minor point.
That said, we got some real treasures. ‘A Sister’s Social Agony’ sounded fantastic, as did the awesome ‘Lloyd I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken’. We were also treated to three fine new songs, my favourite of which was called ‘Swans’. The band seemed relaxed, and whilst crowd interaction was kept to a relative minimum, what we did get was light hearted and friendly. The sound was pretty good and it has to be said that Tracyanne’s voice is easily as good as it is on the records. What also came across was the way the tracks transferred seamlessly to a live setting. The whole band was incredibly tight and each track was banged out with a military precision whilst not losing any of the character it possessed. I genuinely couldn’t fault the gig. I even liked the venue (The Talking Heads has the finest selection of lagers on tap I have ever seen).
If you ever get a chance to see Camera Obscura, please take it. You will be hard pressed to find a band as genuine and as friendly as they are - and for that matter - as brilliantly understated.
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