In Camera
Hardly Art
• What would Lou Reed and Brian Wilson sound like as a duet?
Grant Olsen and Sonya Westcott are the driving force behind In Camera, and they’ve constructed a nostalgic album of ’60s and ’70s pop music, finding a common ground between Beach Boys melodies and Velvet Underground haziness. “There are Too Many Birds” is initially approachable, an upbeat acoustic guitar-and-drums piece, but Westcott’s vocals come in whispered from the corner of the room, giving a mysterious air to an otherwise simple song. Olson takes over the singing duties for “1000 Words,” a fitting counterpoint for “Birds.” Vocally much more straightforward, the track is accompanied by a haunting, plodding electric guitar.
The first album released on Hardly Art, the new label run by Jonathan Poneman, founder of Sub Pop, In Camera marks a very impressive debut for Arthur & Yu. In Camera is infused with a lot of artistry, but not at the expense of the album’s accessibility. There was a time when you knew that everything Sub Pop released would be worth hearing — let’s hope the same will be true for Hardly Art.
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