Camera Obscura (album)

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Camera Obscura

Studio album by Nico
Released	1985
Recorded	Strongroom, London, March-April 1985
Genre	Rock
Label	Beggars Banquet
Producer(s)	John Cale
All Music Guide link
Nico chronology
Do or Die: Nico in Europe (1982)	Camera Obscura (1985)	Behind the Iron Curtain (1985)

Camera Obscura is the name of an experimental avant-garde music album recorded and released by Nico and the Faction in 1985. It was produced by John Cale. It was her final album before her death three years later. The album definitely shows the new wave and synthesized influence of the 80s (unlike her late 60s and 70s work which were not easily defined by decades). The title track is the most unconventional and unsettling of the songs, while harmonium-laden "Konig" seems to be a return to her roots (excluding first solo album "Chelsea Girls"). "Fearfully In Danger" seems to be the most conventional of tracks, despite being over 7 minutes long. People have commented that "My Heart Is Empty" sounds like a more sinister version of the Kate Bush hit "Running Up That Hill" released the same year, as the density of the synths as well as the tempo and drum pattern are similar. Her plaintive cover of "My Funny Valentine" has been touted as a Nico classic.

[edit] Track listing

All tracks written by Nico, except noted otherwise

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

[edit] Personnel

Nico: voice, harmonium
The Faction:
- James Young: keyboards
- Graham Dids: percussion, old suitcase, pots, pans, kettles
John Cale: vocals ("Camera Obscura")
Ian Carr: trumpet ("My Funny Valentine", "Into the Arena")