Camera Obscura – ‘Look to the East, Look to the West’ album review: a beautiful comeback

Name: Camera Obscura - Look to the East Look to the West
Rating: 4

Aimee Ferrier

Wed 1 May 2024 18:29, UK

Camera Obscura - 'Look to the East, Look to the West'

THE SKINNY: Camera Obscura might have formed in 1996, almost 30 years ago, but their sound feels as fresh as ever. Their sixth album, Look to the East, Look to the West, is a triumphant return to form following a decade of absence due to the sad death of keyboardist Carey Lander.

These ten years have afforded the band the chance to reflect on the complexity of life in all of its ups and downs, with equal doses of hopefulness and melancholy informing the record. It’s melodic and dreamy, with twangs of country-esque guitars, gentle synths and potent lyrical endeavours into grief, lost love, feminism and desire.

Since their inception, the band have experimented with an indie pop sound, and while their new music isn’t a wild diversion from their past work, it feels slightly modernised and more refined, yet still timeless. There are some really gorgeous tracks here which feel incredibly special, possessing a sense of intimacy that makes you feel like the only listener in the world. ‘Only a Dream’, for example, is a beautiful piano-led piece that floats with slight melancholy, standing out as an album highlight.

Meanwhile, ‘We’re Going to Make It In a Man’s World’ is a sweet and empowering anthem of female empowerment which feels more closely aligned with ‘90s indie pop, twinkling with optimism. The album moves between more upbeat moments that inject a surge of happiness into the record, like ‘Pop Goes Pop’, while slower cuts such as ‘Sugar Almond’ are much more tender and vulnerable.

Camera Obscura are set to enjoy a comeback with Look to the East, Look to the West, which will certainly welcome legions of new fans while pleasing longtime listeners.

For fans of: Feeling nostalgic without losing sight of the present.

A concluding comment from my boyfriend: “This is the musical equivalent of your grandma’s famous cake recipe: wholesome, delicate and sweet, with a secret ingredient you can’t quite put your finger on.”

Look to the East, Look to the West track by track:

Release date: May 3rd | Producer: Jari Haapalainen | Label: Merge Records

‘Liberty Print’: While this might not be the greatest song on the album, it’s a solid opener, building up a rhythmic tempo which feels breezy and light. [3.5/5]

‘We’re Going to Make It in a Man’s World’: One of the greatest tracks the band has ever made, it feels like a warm hug from one woman to another. Playful yet insightful, you won’t be able to get this one out of your head. [4.5/5]

‘Big Love’: A more upbeat number with country-inspired instrumentals, promoting moving forward rather than being stuck in the past. “Oh, honey, don’t go back there/ You know there’s no room for you there,” Tracyanne Campbell sings. [3.5/5]

‘Only a Dream’: Another highlight, ‘Only a Dream’, is slightly downbeat and lyrically mellow, but hardly a depressing listen. The gentle guitar solo ties the whole thing together, complimenting the piano perfectly. [4/5]

‘The Light Nights’: Sun-drenched and, like ‘Big Love’, possessing a country twang, Campbell confronts the subject with a defiant “Would you give up your love for me, I am asking, please?” [4/5]

‘Sleepwalking’: A melancholic ballad, ‘Sleepwalking’ is a much simpler cut that allows Campbell’s voice to shine, but it feels much less interesting than other tracks. [3/5]

‘Baby Huey (Hard Times)’: From its rumbling beginning to the sparkling synths that buoy the song forward, this track feels a little different from the typical Camera Obscura sound, but it works fantastically. [3.5/5]

‘Denon’: The lyrics are particularly evocative here, with Campbell singing about “talking ‘til morning” and going to the cinema to be alone. It’s a charming listen that you can’t help but smile to. [3.5/5]

‘Pop Goes Pop’: Like the title, this one is much more poppy, with the addition of an organ making for a nice touch. The chorus is easily the most addictive part, though. [4/5]

‘Sugar Almond’: A lovely elegy about Lander, stripped back with just piano accompanying Campbell’s voice. [4/5]

‘Look to the East, Look to the West’: Wrapping the album up is the title track, a gently euphoric moment, with clarinets and piano bouncing off each other. [4/5]