Camera Obscura

Having spent the majority of the day in Farnham, getting my eardrums tortured by the emo/mathrock carnage that is Escanna, Econoline and Hirameka Hi-Fi, the trip back to town to catch twee Scots Camera Obscura was wholly welcomed

The evening, promoted by the irrepresible Strange Fruit, largely consisted of avid Belle and Sebastian fans and few others. Camera Obscura's soundman being B&S' frontman Stuart Murdoch, allowed this gig to be every ligger's dream with members of B&S (no sight of Isabel sadly..) meandering aimlessly around the venue to an enthusiastic audience.

Camera Obscura make no effort in hiding the fact that they are heavily influenced by their fellow countrymen. Their harmonised male/female vocals, softly glide across lush acoustic rhythms.

Song titles escape me, but debut single 'Eighties Fan' drools fey, with undoubtedly simple twee lyricism 'Console yourself with the Reader's Digest/Ringing the Yellow Pages all alone'

The sound is warm and embracing, yet certainly the degree of simplicity is lost as trumpets and keys melt over the aforementioned sounds.

In a world of Tompaulin, Sodastream and The Gentle Waves, Camera Obscura more than hold their own. This evening's audience welcomed them with willing and open arms, but in a wider world, the shedding of cotton wool may prove harder than it seems.