Camera Obscura (album)

Infobox Album |
Name = Camera Obscura
Type = Album
Artist = Nico


Released = 1985
Recorded = March-April 1985
The Strongroom, London
Genre = Experimental
Length =
Producer = John Cale
Label = Beggars Banquet
Reviews = *Allmusic Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gek0ikc6bbf9 link]
Last album = ""
(1982)
This album = "Camera Obscura"
(1985)
Next album = "Behind the Iron Curtain"
(1985)

"Camera Obscura" (Darkened Chamber) is the name of an experimental avant-garde music album recorded and released by Nico in 1985. It was produced by John Cale. It was Nico's final studio album before her death three years later. Her vocal style is considerably different from her prior records. Tananore, for instance, strongly hints at Dead Can Dance's Lisa Gerrard. "Das Lied Von Einsanen Madchens" also sounds similar to Dead Can Dance. The jazz tune "My Funny Valentine", by contrast, has a more standard legato vocal style, despite her very deep contralto. Many of the tracks offer a refined version of the new wave gothic rock of her previous album, "Drama in Exile".

Track listing

All tracks written by Nico except where noted.

#"Camera Obscura" - 3:42 (Nico, John Cale, James Young, Graham Dids)
#"Tananore" - 4:24
#"Win a Few" - 6:10
#"My Funny Valentine" - 3:23 (Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart)
#"Das Lied vom einsamen Mädchen" - 5:40 (Robert Gilbert, Heyman)
#"Fearfully in Danger" - 7:26
#"My Heart Is Empty" - 4:37
#"Into the Arena" - 4:12
#"König" - 4:08

Personnel

*Nico: voice, harmonium
*The Faction:
**James Young: keyboards
**Graham Dids: percussion
*John Cale: vocals on "Camera Obscura"
*Ian Carr: trumpet on "My Funny Valentine", "Into the Arena"

External links

* [http://smironne.free.fr/NICO/camera.php Lyrics, liner notes, images]