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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Top Albums
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High Land, Hard Rain
Aztec Camera
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The Best of Aztec Camera
Aztec Camera Buy- Download Album
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Love
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Stray
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Shoutbox
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simontogo wrote:
High Land, Hard Rain and Knife !
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mvkut37 wrote:
sounds so good
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Sonicjr01 wrote:
Yeah ... What zombilicous said ...
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zombilicous wrote:
OBLIVIOUSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!
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dAniel_brit wrote:
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mattsmith92 wrote:
'High Land, Hard Rain' is so perfect!!
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duubhglas wrote:
And what we need is not security, something more than a law.
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VelvetMesgue wrote:
Walk Out To Winter is so perfect
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domoniccc wrote:
I recently did as well, so amazing
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coeurvanille wrote:
just picked up the Knife vinyl from a record store. great album!
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rod32lop wrote:
O ser humano deve agarrar as rédeas de seu destino e libertar-se das amarras que o prendem ao seu passado.
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GrafittyKitty29 wrote:
♥ <3
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George336 wrote:
Knife is their best album; 'Still On fire' their best song.
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Yonn1979 wrote:
Purrfection.
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magnowarhol wrote:
"It's like The Smiths sans the bullshit drama." !!!!
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rehashgod wrote:
Ich liebe diesen Traum Engel Geschlechtsverkehr Sound der Band Aztec Kino
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Lyrradsemaj wrote:
Perfect 80's pop.
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natalieshaw wrote:
Pocketbooks play Pic 'n' Mixx at London's Buffalo Bar on Saturday May 29, with Cola Jet Set, Foxes! and The Cavalcade. Come! http://www.last.fm/event/1447607+Pic+%27n%27+Mixx /// http://www.wegottickets.com/event/75482
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Yonn1979 wrote:
Stray is one of my all time favorite albums ♥ And... I just feel that Love was a good idea but not so structurated that ended in a not so good but commercial album ):
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Austintayeshus wrote:
New photos: http://www.last.fm/music/Aztec+Camera/+images/44894767 http://www.last.fm/music/Aztec+Camera/+images/44894777 and http://www.last.fm/music/Aztec+Camera/+images/44894789
Videos
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Play
SPANISH HORSES
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Play
DOWN THE DIP
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Play
Roddy Frame - How Men Are -…
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Play
(Live w / lyrics) - Somewhere…
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Recent Activity
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urbanbeach, Karmaleon2011, casiodestroytoy and 3 other people added Aztec Camera to their libraries. yesterday evening
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pablo-niddle tagged Aztec Camera with indie pop and new wave. Monday evening
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English-Tea, sarahcynical, paulbyrne21 and 4 other people added Aztec Camera to their libraries. Monday afternoon
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simontogo uploaded azteccamera to Aztec Camera’s images. Saturday morning
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missmarte and porcelainveins added Aztec Camera to their libraries. last week
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simontogo uploaded l to Aztec Camera’s images. last week
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simontogo uploaded aztec-camera to Aztec Camera’s images. last week
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simontogo uploaded AztecCamera to Aztec Camera’s images. last week
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simontogo uploaded AZTECCAMERA1 to Aztec Camera’s images. last week
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andimilne and leeakov added Aztec Camera to their libraries. last week
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