Reviewed by: www.backagain.de

CAMERA OBSCURA - Horizons Of Suburbia

First release: LP 2005 / Anna Logue Records / Anna 001.2005

It is fascinating...the small labels who go in for the refurbishment of the
early German wave scene are sprouting out of the ground ump-teen times. With Anna Logue Records there's now a label looking for interesting international material. As a result here its first release, an LP by Camera Obscura. The English group released a single on the legendary Small Wonder Label (who in each case have issued the first release of Crass, The Cure and Bauhaus!) and then recorded demos in respect to an upcoming contract with a major label, but the release never happened. Now there is an LP with recordings from 1983 and thus another wonderful early Synthie-Pop/New Wave record will be landing
in the collector's record cupboards.
The music is quite catchy, as said Synthie-Pop, but also interesting for
Minimal-Electro fans. I don't hit on to who it reminds me, but for those who like for example Mark Lane, the early 90's band Trinity Mania or the
American band I Satellite, cannot do something wrong here. Actually every song is a potential hit and qualified for a 7" single release... even
"Mandarin Man", which reminds me of another song, but again I can't get on it who "stole" from who. Whatever, because tracks like "Horizons of
Suburbia" or "Circular Waves", the latter having a slight touch of Soft
Cell, and others, there are songs included which shall certainly make it to the Club's playlists. I like best the tracks in which a unobtrusive guitar
is heard.
And if the music wasn't just good enough, it comes in a really nice design: nice colour cover, colour supplementary sheet, the whole thing limited to 400 copies while the first 100 carry an autographed photo. Through an all around quality Anna Logue Records already stands out from other minimal labels by now, as they oftenly do not design their releases at all. Presenting the music alone, they waste the possibilities of graphic design given through an LP cover. Let's hope that Anna Logue Records stick to that.
I am already curious what's next on this label, because there is still much to discover on the international market. I dare to say, I think it will
stick to a more melodic wavestyle instead of danceable minimal ... and if
that wasn't enjoyable.
A must-buy!

Alexander Pohle for www.backagain.de (Translation by Marc Schaffer)