Camp Cope’s honesty is both unnerving and admirable. While the lyrics are at times deeply personal, the band also make important statements about issues in society. Themes on the album range from the conflicting sense of responsibility we feel towards people in need, to the problematic nature of victim blaming. That all this can come from the one release is pretty incredible.
You may recognise some of the songs on Camp Cope from lead singer Georgia Maq’s solo project. These songs have been re-worked from their acoustic beginnings and truly come to life accompanied by a full band. Flesh and Electricity details Maq’s experience working as a nurse, while both West Side Story and Lost (Season One) chronicle the heartache that comes with being separated from the ones you love. Maq’s vocals are heart wrenching and earnest, but rather than overshadowing the music they complement the band’s raw instrumentation.
While tracks vary in their aggression and pace, even the slower numbers carry a significant amount of power. Standout track Jet Fuel Can’t Melt Steel Beams is an unflinchingly realistic account of the struggles many women face. The song is direct in conveying its message that women have the right to feel safe and to be taken seriously. Album closer Song For Charlie is a touching tribute to a lost friend, with the lyric, “I still listen to your songs everyday”, a beautiful sentiment.
There’s no room for obscure literary references or complicated metaphors on this album. Instead you get eight songs that document the trials and triumphs of everyday life set against the backdrop of Melbourne’s western suburbs. Camp Cope write and record music because they give a shit about what’s happening around them, and they’re quickly establishing themselves as one of the loudest voices in Australian music.
BY HOLLY PEREIRA
