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Album Review

Summer Camp
Welcome to Condale Apricot / Moshi Moshi

Article written by Paul M - Nov 20, 2011

Welcome to Condale

The brief air of mystique that Summer Camp encouraged with their extensive use of retro artwork and movies of young Americans at rest or play ended when they were unveiled as West London’s keyboard folkster Jeremy Warmsley and vocalist chum Elizabeth Sankey. This belated debut album’s realisation is courtesy of the very modern d-i-y approach of using an online resource (Pledge Music) to get fans to fund the release via the promise of cakes, jumpsuits, postcards, personal low-key performances and of course, the music. So although Moshi Moshi appears on the label, it’s below the duo’s own, Apricot.

So was it worth waiting two years for? The answer’s an unreserved ‘yes’. Musically it’s a fusion of much that we enjoy; one minute 60s girl group, the next fuzzy indiepop, but all bonded by the glue of 80s keyboard pop. From the strident opening bars of the fizzy Better Off Without You, where Sankey sets the emotional tone for the album over a pumping electro beat by repeating the line “Stop Calling Me”, you realise it’s not all fluff though. Indeed, lyrically, there’s plenty of conflict throughout as Warmsley and Sankey take turns to mock former lovers, rivals or friends and even the positivity can come across as downright sinister - “I’d wrap my arms around you and snap every bone in your back / I want you / I want you” (I Want You). The only disappointment is probably closer 1988 where the strung out chorus grates after constant repetition. That aside, this is an assured and highly enjoyable debut.

Early birds are advised to pick up the limited version offered by Rough Trade that comes with a free 4 track EP.

Links:
http://www.myspace.com/summercampmusic