Camera Obscura — My Maudlin Career

It's business as usual for Scottish indie heroes Camera Obscura, despite economic malaise the world over.

The band chose not to tinker with their cheery, light pop sound on My Maudlin Career. In spite of the disc's dour title, it's full of the pleasant melodies, strong instrumentation and nods to both sarcasm and '60s girl groups that were previously displayed on 2006's Let's Get Out Of This Country breakthrough.

Vocalist Tracyanne Campbell hasn't shed the "little girl lost" lilt in her singing, and her ability to switch from sounding dreamy to downright bored remains her greatest strength as a frontwoman. Lead single "French Navy" really sums up the album in a nutshell, from the Stax-sized drums to the orchestral flourishes.

It's all very cutesy, so if you're predisposed to Belle And Sebastian, The Pastels et al, you might as well add Camera Obscura to your diet if you haven't already.

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