大象传媒

Drinking cups of tea onstage? Post gig antics involving watching repeats of The Apprentice? This cannot be Rock 'n' (or) Roll...

Well it's not, its Camera Obscura - hailing from Glasgow and making their first appearance in Belfast in over two years. Think Belle & Sebastian fronted by geography teachers and you're on the right track.

Their latest LP 'My Maudlin Career' makes up the crux of tonight's set list. Thankfully, that record is a band at the peak of their powers and songs full of love and despair soar tonight - even resulting in some sporadic dancing (or 60s style jiving, to be precise). They set the standard from the get go with song of the year contender 'French Navy' and the country tinged 'Forest and Sands' both sounding like 60s throwbacks, but infused with their own indie pop sensibility.

Their stage banter is limited - they regale us with some of the most un-rock 'n' roll stories imaginable, including lead singer Tracyanne Campbell telling us about how she nearly partied with Richard Hawley (but then didn't). Oh, and after the show, they're all looking forward to watching the new episode of The Apprentice.

P-A-R-T-Y

They do however offer up 'Swans' for karaoke but fortunately everybody in attendance appeared to take a bout of shyness, and it ends up one of the highlights. They delve into their back catalogue and play 'Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken' and 'Let's Get Out Of This Country' to everyone's delight - these are songs full of despair that shouldn't leave us in such good spirits.

A lack of encore and a few technical glitches can't upset a short, but oh so sweet set.

Words: Paul Mullin
Pic: Camera Obscura official website