By the time Camera Obscura made Let’s Get Out Of This Country, the Glasgow band had turned their tender indie pop into something broader and more assured. Tracyanne Campbell’s songs keep the melodies clear while the arrangements bring in country and soul touches, polished harmonies, and prominent strings. “Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken” and “Tears For Affairs” carry the bright, bittersweet pull of classic pop, while “Razzle Dazzle Rose” and the title track give the album room to breathe without losing its focus.
Released by Elefant Records in 2006, this was the band’s third album and the point where their audience expanded beyond the people already following their early singles. It was recorded in Sweden with Jari Haapalainen producing, and the sessions included string players who had recently toured with Brian Wilson and Arthur Lee & Love. Victoria Bergsman of The Concretes, Britta Persson, and members of several Swedish pop groups also contributed. The Belle & Sebastian connection is obvious in the careful songwriting and soft-edged wit, but Camera Obscura sound less bookish here, with a fuller pop frame around Campbell’s voice. Fans of indie pop, Elefant’s catalogue, and finely arranged guitar pop should start with this one.
