Friday 2 August 2024

Razzle Dazzle Rose

Trust me #75

Razzle Dazzle Rose by Camera Obscura 

Glasgow's Camera Obscura played their first hometown show in 5-years in the famous Barrowland Ballroom on Saturday 11th May, following on from the release of new album Look to the East, Look to the West. The album is perfect for a lazy, hazy, sunny day.

Glasgow was still basking in glorious sunshine when I arrived just before 8pm to meet my friend Lorna. The area around the Barras was jumping with a mix of music fans and Celtic supporters. The green half of the city were out in force, many of them for the full day judging by those celebrating inside and outside some of the bars around the Barras. 

Lorna and I caught most of support act Liz Lawrence and we thoroughly enjoyed her energetic set as she blasted her guitar over beats and backing tracks. Liz recently released her 4th album Peanuts and it is well worth checking out. There was an energetic edge to Lawrence's performance and songs, some rock n roll guitar, some funky beats, honesty and soul. Well worth checking out.

Pat Nevin introduced Camera Obscura on to the stage and their ninety minute set was an absolute delight. Sensitive, melodic, soulful and at times soaring. The trumpet solos were spine tingling.

The band received an exceptionally warm welcome and many songs generated the famous Barrowland roar. While I'm a sucker for the pure pop of French Navy and Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken, my favourite (at least at present) Camera Obscura song is the heart melting beauty Razzle Dazzle Rose.

After self-producing previous releases, Camera Obscura brought in some external support for their 2006 album Let's Get Out Of This Country. The forever helpful Stephen Pastel recommended Jari Haapalainen from the band The Bear Quartet as a producer, so the band decamped to Sweden for recording, with Bjorn Yttling of Peter, Bjorn and John helping with arrangements.

So the band really did get out of the country! 

And the results were truly beautiful. The whole album has a beautiful warm feeling to it.

Razzle Dazzle Rose, the final song, shimmers into life as the band build a gentle groove with rhythm guitar, percussion, bass, lead guitar and trumpet all introduced over the space of a glorious first minute. 

Tracyanne Campbell's voice melts my heart;

Rose, I'm feeling older

I was as lucky as, a four-leaved clover

I tried to be happy it wasn't easy

When I choose my colour it will be Razzle Dazzle Rose 

The trumpet comes back in, the shuffling beat has a little pace injected into it and Camera Obscura give me all the feels with the way they gel together so effortlessly. The extended instrumentals between verses swoop and soar, slowing, speeding, but the mournful melancholic trumpet holds everything together.

The song feels like it is collapsing after 4-minutes, but there is still another 90-seconds of beauty before the band finally wrap it up. Glorious!

Razzle Dazzle Rose is added to my Trust Me playlist; search for Everything Flows - Trust Me on Spotify or CLICK HERE 

Check below for all previous blogs in my Trust Me series.

Previous Trust Me blogs

1. Something On Your Mind by Karen Dalton
1A. Crimson and Clover by Tommy James and the Shondells
2. I Am, I Said  by Neil Diamond
3. Where's The Playground Susie?   by Glen Campbell
4. If You Could Read My Mind by Gordon Lighfoot
5. Gimme Some Truth by John Lennon
6. Gone With The Wind Is My Love by Rita and the Tiaras
7. In The Year 2525 by Zager and Evans
8. The Music Box by Ruth Copeland
9. The Ship Song by Nick Cave
10. Sometimes by James
11. I Walk The Earth by King Biscuit Time
12. Didn't Know What I Was In For by Better Oblivion Community Centre
13. When My Boy Walks Down The Street by The Magnetic Fields
14. The Man Don't Give A F**k by Super Furry Animals
15. All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley and Liz Fraser
16. Are You Lookin' by The Tymes
17. A Real Hero by College & Electric Youth
18. Feelings Gone by Callum Easter
19. Sunday Morning by The Velvet Underground
20. Did I Say by Teenage Fanclub
21. Don't Look Back by Teenage Fanclub
23. Belfast by Orbital
24. Clouds by The Jayhawks
25. Dreaming Of You by The Coral
26. Everlasting Love by Love Affair
27. Walk Away Renee by The Left Banke
28. Teenage Kicks by The Undertones
29. Shaky Ground by Sneeze
29. Rill Rill by Sleigh Bells
30. I Can Feel Your Love by Felice Taylor
31. The State We're In by The Chemical Brothers w/ Beth Orton
32. Sunshine After The Rain by Ellie Greenwich
33. Losing My Edge by LCD Soundsystem
34. Mondo 77 by Looper
35. Les Fleurs by Minnie Riperton
36. Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats
37. How High by The Charlatans
38. I Can't Let Go by Evie Sands
39. Pop Song 89 by R.E.M.
40. Summertime Clothes by Animal Collective
41. There She Goes by The Las
42. We're Going To Be Friends by White Stripes
43. Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo
44. Sister Rena by Lomond Campbell
45. Revolution by The Beatles
46. Lazarus by The Boo Radleys
47. Wrote For Luck by Happy Mondays
48. American Trilogy by The Delgados
49. Loser by Beck 
50. Silent Sigh by Badly Drawn Boy
51. Comedy by Shack
52. Take The Skinheads Bowling by Camper Van Beethoven
53. Freakscene by Dinosaur Jr
54. Thank You For Being You by The Pastels
55. I Think I'm In Love by Spiritualized
56. Chestnut Mare by The Byrds
57. Cannonball by The Breeders
58. Like A Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan
59. You Make Me Weak At The Knees by Electrelane
60. Lucky by Radiohead
61. Strange Currencies by R.E.M.
61. I Am The Cosmos by Chris Bell
62. Like A Ship (Without A Sail) by Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir
63. Nothing But A Heartache by The Flirtations
64. Made of Stone by The Stone Roses
65. Tonight In Belfast by Orbital, David Holmes, DJ Helen and Mike Garry
66. Anything by Adrianne Lenker
67. I Hold Something In My Hand by Bill Ryder-Jones
68. I Meant Every Word by Burnett Sisters
69. Dream Baby Dream by Suicide
70. Stove by The Lemonheads
71. Red Lady by Phil Cordell
72. Little Fluffy Clouds by The Orb
74. Turnin' My Heartbeat Up by The M.V.P.'s



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