Summer Sounds: July

“French Navy” by Camera Obscura

My Maudlin Career

The heat was turned up high in July, with Seattle reaching record breaking temperatures, the likes of which the city had never seen. (The native East Coasters just slathered on some tanning butter and reminded everyone that “at least it isn’t humid.”)

As denizens scoured their neighborhoods looking for the lone air-conditioned business, I turned to Glaswegian band Camera Obscura for some sun-drenched songs. Star track “French Navy” kicks things into gear with an American 60s girl-group feel, lacing “oohs” in with some sparklingly clever lyrics. Sometimes nearly capsized under waves of powerful orchestral sound, Tracyanne Campbell’s rough-edged voice manages to stay afloat and carry each song to shore. The bouncier tracks made the sun shine a little brighter on the water as July rolled into August.