Let's Get Out of This Country

by Camera Obscura

Overview

If this review could be one word long, that word would be "enchanting." Camera Obscura has always been lovely but they've made the jump to truly enchanting with their third album, Let's Get Out of This Country. Stepping fully out of the shadow of their onetime patrons Belle & Sebastian, the group has composed and performed an album that is comparable to B&S' best and ranks with the best indie pop albums ever. More importantly, they've released an album that pierces straight through the heart. Head Camera Tracyanne Campbell writes amazingly intimate and tender ballads that can break your heart with the slightest lyrical twist, swell of strings, or vocal harmony. That she sings these songs in a voice so sweet and direct adds an extra level of feeling to songs like the wrenching "Country Mile" and the almost unbearably melancholy "Tears for Affairs." The band's gentle and restrained playing and the expansive production courtesy of Jari Haapalainen are note perfect as well. Whether rocking out in a Motown manner or lying back with some mellow country-rock, the combination of music, lyrics, melodies, and vocals is, well, enchanting. Picking out highlights is like picking your favorite among your children, but you might find yourself drawn to the witty "Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken" (a 22-years-late response to Lloyd Cole's classic "Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?"), the aforementioned "Country Mile," the musically relaxed, lyrically bitter "I Need All the Friends I Can Get," or the country tearjerker "Dory Previn," which references the singer/songwriter who had her husband stolen by a very young Mia Farrow and in response wrote the classic breakup song "Beware of Young Girls." Here Campbell turns Previn "up to 11 for the band's ears to bleed" in order to help put her ex out of her mind and delivers her most affecting vocal on the album, which is no small feat on a record as suffused in heartache as Let's Get Out of This Country. You might not find heartache as enchanting as this anywhere else. ~ Tim Sendra

Product Details

Release Date:	06/23/2023
Label:	Elefant
UPC:	8428846111230
Rank:	24205

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Camera Obscura   Primary Artist
Erik Arvinder   Violin
Erik Holm   Violin
Britta Persson   Vocals (Background),Choir/Chorus
Victoria Bergsman   Choir/Chorus
Jari Haapalainen   Percussion
Andreas Forsman   Violin
Lena Bergstroem   Cello
Tomas Hallonsten   Accordion
Isak Klasson   Choir/Chorus
Markus Krunegard   Choir/Chorus
Marcella Svensson   Choir/Chorus
Sibille Attar   Choir/Chorus

Technical Credits

Jari Haapalainen   Audio Production,Producer,Performer
Gavin Dunbar   Group Member
Victoria Bergsman   Hair Stylist
Christoffer Lundquist   Mixing
Tracyanne Campbell   Composer,Group Member
Francis MacDonald   Management
Petra   Cover Star
Bjoern Yttling   String Arrangements
Henrik Jonsson   Mastering
Andreas Forsman   Performer
Lena Bergstroem   Performer
Stefan Boman   Engineer
Kenny McKeeve   Group Member
Nigel Baillie   Group Member
Tomas Hallonsten   Performer
Christopher Roth   Engineer
Carey Lander   Group Member
Lee Thomson   Group Member
Johan Rude   String Engineer
Fredik Ottosson   Cover Photo
Luis Calvo   Layout Design
Izabel Granstroem   Make-Up,Hair Stylist