Camera Obscura is the name of an experimental avant-garde music album recorded and released by Nico and the Faction in 1985. It was produced by John Cale. It was her final album before her death three years later. The album definitely shows the new wave and synthesized influence of the 80s (unlike her late 60s and 70s work which were not easily defined by decades). The title track is the most unconventional and unsettling of the songs, while harmonium-laden "Konig" seems to be a return to her roots (excluding first solo album "Chelsea Girls"). "Fearfully In Danger" seems to be the most conventional of tracks, despite being over 7 minutes long. People have commented that "My Heart Is Empty" sounds like a more sinister version of the Kate Bush hit "Running Up That Hill" released the same year, as the density of the synths as well as the tempo and drum pattern are similar. Her plaintive cover of "My Funny Valentine" has been touted as a Nico classic. Experimental music is any music that challenges the commonly accepted notions of what music is. ... A work similar to Marcel Duchamps Fountain Avant garde (written avant-garde) is a French phrase, one of many French phrases used by English speakers. ... Nico Nico (born Christa Päffgen) was a fashion model, actress, and composer. ... See also: 1984 in music, other events of 1985, 1986 in music, 1980s in music and the list of years in music // Events January 28 - Various artists, including Ray Charles, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Willie Nelson, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Kenny Rogers, Diana Ross, Paul Simon... John Cale (born March 9, 1942) is a Welsh musician, songwriter and record producer. ... Kate Bush (born Catherine Bush on July 30, 1958 in Bexleyheath, London, England and attended St. ... Nico Nico (born Christa Päffgen) was a fashion model, actress, and composer. ...

Personnel

Nico: voice, harmonium This article is on the musical instrument; for information on other kinds of harmonia, see harmonium (disambiguation). ...

with The Faction:

• James Young:keyboards
• Graham Dids: percussion, old suitcase, pots, pans, kettles

Assisted by:

• John Cale: vocals on Camera Obscura
• Ian Carr: trumpet My Funny Valentine, Into the Arena

Track Listing

1. Camera Obscura (3:42)
2. Tananore (4:24)
3. Win a Few (6:10)
4. My Funny Valentine (3:23)
5. Das Lied vom einsamen Mädchen (5:40)
6. Fearfully in Danger (7:26)
7. My Heart Is Empty (4:37)
8. Into the Arena (4:12)
9. König (4:08)

External Links

• Lyrics, liner notes, images