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Aztec Camera
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Glasgow, United Kingdom (1981 – 1995)
Aztec Camera was a Scottish new wave band from Glasgow.
The line-up of the band changed several times over the years, but the constant member had been guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Roddy Frame. Founding members included Campbell Owens (bass) and Dave Mulholland (drums). Ex-Bluebells bassist Craig Gannon was a member from 1983 through 1985, before joining The Smiths. Guitarist Malcolm Ross (formerly of Josef K and Orange Juice) also joined in 1983, and appeared on the Knife album.
Though generally considered to be born out of the New Wave movement, Aztec Camera’s music is mostly acoustic oriented and might be better described as guitar pop. There is no doubt that the band took some musical and lyrical inspiration from Elvis Costello. Aztec Camera opened for Costello on a U.S. tour early in their career.
The band’s first UK 7” single was released by Glasgow-based indie label Postcard Records in January, 1981, and contained the songs “Just Like Gold” and “We Could Send Letters”. The latter song appeared on the influential C81 compilation cassette, released by NME in 1981.
Aztec Camera’s debut album, High Land, Hard Rain, was released in 1983. However, Owens and Mulholland left the group before the release, leaving Frame to complete the album alone. The album was quite successful, gathering significant critical acclaim for its well-crafted, multi-layered pop. The band went on to release a total of six albums, although most of these were essentially written and played by Frame. The albums included Knife (1984), Love (1987), Stray (1990), Dreamland (1993) and Frestonia (1995).
The line-up of the band changed several times over the years, but the constant member had been guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Roddy Frame. Founding members included Campbell Owens (bass) and Dave Mulholland (drums). Ex-Bluebells bassist Craig Gannon was a member from 1983 through 1985, before joining The Smiths. Guitarist Malcolm Ross (formerly of Josef K and Orange Juice) also joined in 1983, and appeared on the Knife album.
Though generally considered to be born out of the New Wave movement, Aztec Camera’s music is mostly acoustic oriented and might be better described as guitar pop. There is no doubt that the band took some musical and lyrical inspiration from Elvis Costello. Aztec Camera opened for Costello on a U.S. tour early in their career.
The band’s first UK 7” single was released by Glasgow-based indie label Postcard Records in January, 1981, and contained the songs “Just Like Gold” and “We Could Send Letters”. The latter song appeared on the influential C81 compilation cassette, released by NME in 1981.
Aztec Camera’s debut album, High Land, Hard Rain, was released in 1983. However, Owens and Mulholland left the group before the release, leaving Frame to complete the album alone. The album was quite successful, gathering significant critical acclaim for its well-crafted, multi-layered pop. The band went on to release a total of six albums, although most of these were essentially written and played by Frame. The albums included Knife (1984), Love (1987), Stray (1990), Dreamland (1993) and Frestonia (1995).
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High Land, Hard Rain
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The Best of Aztec Camera
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Stray
Aztec Camera
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Love
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Shoutbox
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secretpassage wrote:
the boy wonders
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staplefish wrote:
thank you roddy for bringing me oblivious.
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thesuperalive wrote:
Pop perfection!
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FutureGods wrote:
COLIN MACINTYRE (AKA MULL HISTORICAL SOCIETY) - NEW ALBUM 'ISLAND' OUT NOW IN EUROPE & USA & CANADA!! US/ UK TOUR DATES OCTOBER 2009 http://www.itunes.com/colinmacintyre http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11184154276 **** Clash **** Daily Mirror **** Mojo **** The Times Album of the Week: Daily Mirror/Sunday Mail/Daily Record USA Tues 6th Oct : NEW YORK The Living Room (8pm) Thur 8th Oct: BROOKLYN Union Hall UK 15th Oct EDINBURGH The Voodoo Rooms 16th Oct GLASGOW Stereo 18th Oct INVERNESS Hootenanny 19th Oct SHEFFIELD Leadmill 20th Oct BRISTOL The Thekla 21st Oct LONDON The Lexington (Fleur-de-Lys Club) 22nd Oct MANCHESTER Night & Day 23rd Oct NOTTINGHAM Rescue Rooms 27th Oct BRIGHTON Latest Music Bar 28th Oct BIRMINGHAM Glee Club 29th Oct MINEHEAD (Somerset) The Hobbyhorse 6th Nov LIVERPOOL Zanzibar (Liverpool Music Week) Ticket & info details: http://www.colinmacintyre.com
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GayeLane wrote:
swedish avantgarde http://www.last.fm/music/Shizzlegizzengarr/Unfortunately+Back+In+2007
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letsgoawayfor wrote:
FUCKING HELL WHY ARE THEY SO GOOD ?! i want to seriously rape rape rape roddy frame to death
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xKOSUKExHAGAx wrote:
seriously amazing band
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infant-tango wrote:
we could send letters is definitely teh best!
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Vanilla-villa wrote:
<3
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YesMother wrote:
Still loving them.
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Freelove_ wrote:
Join my group: Post-Punk.
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Wiggaloo wrote:
I wonder if we will ever see a compilation of early (pre-High Land, Hard Rain) Aztec Camera stuff. Everything Roddy did 'round 1981 is pure magic. Really, the unreleased Green Jacket Grey-album from 1981.. I would do anything to hear it.
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Stjaernstoft wrote:
"Sub-question: is it in fact unfair to criticize a formerly great artist for his latter day sins, is it better to burn out or fade away?"
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Preacher_WF wrote:
nice band!
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wolfgangchinner wrote:
Where has my comment gone you bastards, ?,,it was really funny as well....
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Dadal1er wrote:
Cannot but agree with latter comment.
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blossomtoe wrote:
There are few bands that went from the sublime to the ridiculous in quite the way Roddy et al did. The first two albums are peerless beyond measure. The later stuff - good god, it's just so awful. Still, when you've written a song as good as Oblivious, I guess the only way is down...
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leedshippriest wrote:
Talking shite IanCurtis13, you just don't know your music
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alicewondered wrote:
If you like this band, join: http://www.last.fm/group/Postcard+Records
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IanCurtis13 wrote:
Fucking shit band.
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Recent Activity
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SteveW1987, wreckastow, Slugvan15 and 3 other people added Aztec Camera to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
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boopermagic tagged Aztec Camera with ‘80s’. Monday evening
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