Pitchfork

The last time we left Glasgow twee-pop heartbreakers Camera Obscura, they were trading Merge Records for 4AD. You know, because they can. And now they're ready to dish on the details of their 4AD debut, My Maudlin Career, which will be available to buy with money on April 20 in the UK (April 21 in the U.S.). It was produced by Swede Jari Haapalainen (Peter, Bjorn & John, the Concretes), who helped Camera Obscura with their 2006 breakthrough, Let's Get Out of This Country. Ain't broke.

In a press release, lead singer Tracyanne Campbell describes the LP as "quite dark" and "brutal," which makes us think this might be Camera Obscura's doom-metal move. Alas, no. Based on the title track, which is currently downloadable from their website, these guys know what they're good at. "My Maudlin Career" is a clever bait-and-switch-- you think it's going to be all doom and gloom but then the hook hits with singer Tracyanne Campbell cooing, "My maudlin career has come to an end, I don't wanna be sad again." Something tells us she will be sad again, of course. The band sounds more like the Concretes than ever-- not a bad thing. Spector-esque flourishes, echoing backups, and a killer guitar solo coda all play a part in the, er, brutality. A fine harbinger.  

The album's first official single, "French Navy", will hit April 13. The band is gearing up for the release with a warm-up tour that will hit SXSW, London, New York, and Glasgow. Dates and tracklist ahead:
My Maudlin Career:

01 French Navy
02 The Sweetest Thing
03 You Told a Lie
04 Away With Murder
05 Swans
06 James
07 Careless Love
08 My Maudlin Career
09 Forest and Sands
10 Other Towns and Cities
11 Honey in the Sun

Dates:

03-16 London, England - The Lexington
03-18 Austin, Texas - SXSW
03-24 Brooklyn, New York - The Bell House
04-23 London, England - Shepherd's Bush Empire
04-26 Glasgow, Scotland - Barrowlands Ballroom