By Jacob NelsonThe Daily Northwestern

It’s more than a little ironic that a band named Camera Obscura would be playing sold out shows. But that’s exactly what they were doing at Logan Square Auditorium a week ago.

Playing for a little over ten years, Camera Obscura has mastered mellow, pop indie rock. With six people in the line-up, including a trumpet player as well as an organ and piano player, it shouldn’t come as a shock that fans of Belle and Sebastian would love this band. In fact, before they had a permanent drummer, Camera Obscura released a single with Richard Colburn, the drummer for Belle and Sebastian (both bands originated in Glasgow, Scotland).

Of course, to say Camera Obscura is a cheap Belle and Sebastian knock-off would be doing the band a huge disservice. Though they may have the ability to utilize a variety of instruments in a catchy, melodic way that’s similar to their neighbors in sound, Camera Obscura’s tune is uniquely quiet while being overwhelmingly lush. The band plays big band instruments, but does so in a minimalist way. Often, piano keys and guitar chords are simply rung out rather than hammered, and the only instrument that’s actually heard through an entire song is the percussion.

And when you hear Tracyanne Campbell’s vocals, you know exactly why the instruments keep such a low tone. Sounding both sincere and mesmerizing, Campbell sings like someone who’s putting all of themselves into their art, while simultaneously acting effortlessly. Though her voice has a calm quality about it, Campbell never sounds bored, and as a result, is never boring to hear.

The Essex Green opened for Camera Obscura, playing an entertaining set of country-tinged pop rock. All of this made more interesting by the band’s apparently drunk guitarist, who galloped from one side of the stage to the other throughout the set and rubbed up next to band mates as he played. Yet, even with being drunk and the wild dancing, he didn’t miss any solos, which I thought was impressive.

Camera Obscura started off the set with some of the faster songs from their newest album, Let’s Get Out of This Country, which was released last June on Merge Records. However, saying the band played their faster songs doesn’t mean much, because even when they do pick up the pace, Campbell’s soothing singing makes every song sound a little like a lullaby. But songs like “Let’s Get Out of This Country,” as well as the ultra-poppy “Lloyd, I’m Ready to Be Heartbroken” demonstrate the abilities of guitarist Kenny McKeeve to make ultra-catchy hooks.

Not surprisingly, the best of the set came when the band slowed it down. Although too many slower songs may certainly cause spectators to pay a little less attention, or maybe wish for a bed, the soft ballads of “Books Written for Girls” and “Dory Previn” were absolutely beautiful. The eerie tone of McKeeve’s guitar during the guitar solo followed by Campbell’s crooning of “I think separation is okay,” made the song’s performance a true highlight of the night.

The show ended with an encore performance, during which Camera Obscura brought all of the Essex Green onstage to sing and dance during “I Need All the Friends I Can Get” (aw, how cute). Afterwards, the band played one last song, “Razzle Dazzle Rose,” when drummer Nigel Baillie played trumpet in a much more jazzy way than anything belonging to rock and roll.

But it’s those kinds of combinations and risks that make Camera Obscura one of the few bands that can be both daring and soothing at the same time.

Reach Jaoob Nelson at [email protected].