They certainly like their enigma spread thick on brown wholewheat, do Justin James and Marlowe ( aka CAMP ACTOR) don't they?
"This Is Not New York" is only the shadowy duo's third release in approximately two and a half years, following on from debut "Ultrafashion"/ "Antifashion" early in 2003 and the excellent "Semi-Detached Soul" almost twelve months back to the day. Still, as the old adage says, you can't rush genius, and while "This is Not New York" may not be 24-carat genius pre se, it's undoubtedly a sparkler in its' own right. Like "Semi-Detached Soul", it's synthy, splatchy and claustrophobic, this time alled to compressed, lung-constricting vocals and bubbly sequencers splattering away like they're on heat.
Of course, the title may well be intended ironically, because "This Is Not New York" reminds strongly of the Big Apple's best synth terorists from Suicide through to ARE Weapons. It's spooked frantic, and curiously - like with "Semi-Detached Soul" - also brings Joy Division springing to mind in the final furlong. The way the intense keyboard crescendo rises majestically really does uncannily recall JD's "Isolation". Weird.
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We also get the rather larvely "Diamond Cut" refashioning of "This Is Not New York", remixed by Stephen Patman. This is a goodie, as well, cranking up the dark malevolence to the max and instilling bigger beats and all manner of seething sonic anarchy. The closing (revisited) "Antifashion" ain't bad, either: a primitive, analogous affair that recalls OMD'S first album or perhaps Tubeway Army. Both of which are actually surprisingly good things.
Camp Actor, then, continue to be a thorn in the side we should relish. Their torotoise-paced progress is a tad frustrating because their work is tantalisingly good, but then quality still counts over quality, and in any case - save for Bob Pollard - since when did our best mavericks need to force feed us anyway?
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