Customer Reviews

Camera Obscura

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a great Nico album, once again produced by John Cale. But unlike their earlier collaborations, this one is far more electronic. A track like "Fearfully in Danger" is not terribly far removed from Gary Numan. Some may find this one more accessible than the beyond-goth of "Marble Index".
The one exception to the electronics is the mournful and jazzy version of "My Funny Valentine". That song has been covered hundreds of times and yet when I hear anyone do it I now always think of Nico's version.
I'd also like to recommend the book "The End" written by her keyboardist on this album. It's a sad, scary yet funny book about Nico's later years and a good thing to read while listening to "Camera Obscura".

This album came out in 1985 (The last album before her death two year later) And I've always found the contrast between her old-soul sophisticated voice and the modern synth sound of a lot of these songs very compelling. "Fearfully in Danger" and "Tananore" are perfect examples of this greatness. And "My Funny Valentine" is breathtaking.

This album contains some of the best music I have ever laid

ears on. I have never heard anything like this before. In the

aftermath of listening to this I discovered that not only was I

really experiencing something new, I was becoming someone new.

Moreover, this is just some great music and it truly surprises

you once you start to listen.

Although no words can describe this artist I would definitly

say that they are cosmic, novel, crazy, and very hard to find.

So if you want to broaden your musical horizons, then pick this

herald to the coming of a new age of music. You won't ever want

or need another album, after this. You'll never take it out or

leave it behind. Trust me this is the greatest album that has

ever been made!

If you are expecting to hear songs resembling Nico's early works then you will be a little bit surprised with this one. But this doesnt mean that you will not like the album. Even though the spirit of this album remains to be on the darker side (as usual), there is a different taste that you may find in each song. Along with other songs in here especially My Funny Valentine, Das Lied von Einsamen Madchen and Konig will blow your mind.

Every one of Nico's albums had a diiferent haunting quality about them. It is hard to believe someone with all the issues she faced was able to produce such masterpieces. On this album, she takes a slightly more mainstream direction, but it's still Nico all the way. "Das Lied Von Einsanen Madchens" is simply beautiful. And Nico's voice is even deeper yes...almost otherwordly.

I'd want to be Nico. She's one of a kind. But I don't know if I'd be willing to go through all the addictions, depressions, and holocausts to get to that point. Plus, I think men are yucky. Yes, if I were Nico, I'd be a lesbian.