High Land, Hard Rain

Aztec Camera

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 9, 1991)
• Original Release Date: June 1983
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Reprise / Wea
• ASIN: B000002KZ9
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #81,260 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Oblivious

2. Boy Wonders

3. Walk Out to Winter

4. Bugle Sounds Again

5. We Could Send Letters

6. Pillar to Post

7. Release

8. Lost Outside the Tunnel

9. Back on Board

10. Down the Dip

11. Haywire

12. Orchid Girl

13. Queen's Tattoos

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Roddy Frame was slightly ahead of his time. In 1983, when he wrote, arranged, and--with the help of his band, Aztec Camera--recorded High Land, Hard Rain, he was just 19 years old; and Britpop, the genre Aztec Camera in part inspired, wouldn't become popular for another decade. There is certainly more to High Land, Hard Rain than Britpop, however. Frame, a stellar acoustic guitar strummer, fills the 13 songs with jazz chords, and Aztec Camera's grooves foreshadow British jazz popsters the Style Council and Everything But the Girl. Whether making you dance ("Oblivious," "Queen's Tattoos") or reflect ("The Bugle Sounds Again," "We Could Send Letters"), Frame proves a master craftsman. A bonus tip: the sing-songy "Walk Out to Winter" is a fine addition to any holiday mix. --Bill Crandall

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT!, September 29, 2005

By	ravcon (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This is one of the best pop releases of the early 80's. Great chord structures, melodies, and arrangements - but most of all, songs. I can't believe no one has mentioned my favorite track, "We Could Send Letters" - What a powerful and regal tune. This needs to be in your collection.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful pop music, October 19, 2001

By	john austin (Spokane, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this album (on vinyl, of course) when it was first released and today, 15 years later, own it on CD and it's in my car's CD player. It's beautiful. If you're a fan of Beatles/Crowded House/Squeeze et al. then you will love this tender, noble and oftentimes naive record. Roddy Frame's lyrics and fine guitar playing were never better.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Roddy, Frame It - strong Camera effort!, April 8, 2005

By	Spin Doc (SoCal) - See all my reviews

With a penchant for word-play that I dare to call Morrissey-esque, Roddy Frame exhibits a maturity beyond his years on this early effort. Vocally, Frame sounds like many of the Brit-indie-rockers of the era (although he hails from Scotland), with his understated, yet emotive style. And Camera creates the fine, melodic landscape for Frame's expression. The music recalls a synth-ier version of the early efforts of their contemporary, Everything But the Girl. Add Morrissey-type lyricism (without the wailing gloom) and you get mature, romantic, poetic music at it's 80's best...