Alex Cameron @ Acud Club, Berlin | Friday, 02.05.2014

Australian vocalist/ percussionist Alex Cameron is probably best known as one of the members of Sydney-based electronica trio Seekae, who have released the acclaimed albums “The Sounds of Trees Falling on People” and “+Dome” on Rice is Nice within the last 6 years.

Camerons debut solo LP “Jumping The Shark”, released in November 2013, is remarkably different from past ventures, showcasing simple instrumentation and bold vocal that is all encompassing. It is hard to believe that this record was apparently rejected by ‘at least eight’ record labels.

Alex Cameron | Happy Ending
httpv://https://youtu.be/KU0YrM-rVrA

He leaves almost no trace of a splinter group, continuing along similar lines of the esteemed Seekae, instead, he’s created something free of linear similarities. The album is a collection of tales about sadness and inevitable failure, a complex collection of short stories documenting the bankrupt and morally vacant world of contemporary showbiz – and they’re voiced by a forgotten variety show host, Ken DuPont (Cameron).

Alex Cameron has launched a ‘publicity’ campaign to accompany the album including an awesome website to rival the classic still-live Space Jam relic complete with ‘Under Construction’ graphic and ‘Viagra’ ad. His twitter profile mocks the game of celebrity. Even the name of the album suggests that it’s all a laugh. All cool, except that even when taking the piss, this record is outstanding. The tracks are minimal, perhaps churned out quickly or lovingly crafted to hit this level of simplicity.

Alex Cameron | The Comeback (Live at SXSW 2014)
httpv://https://youtu.be/b9zr-u22aAI

“Jumping the Shark” explores issues such as guilt and humiliation in a world where everyone is to blame for an entire industry’s failure – everyone except themselves. Cameron’s solo work is dark and deadpan, stylistically a little bit Bowie and a little bit Byrne, with the bleak suburban musings of Jarvis Cocker and with a Bryan Ferry-/ Nick Cave-ish vibe in his singing.

Alex Cameron | Gone South
httpv://https://youtu.be/meyuRbQbEso

Cameron about his album: „They are my swan songs for a dying industry. As a self proclaimed musician and human I felt the only way to discover a sense of freedom was to accurately detail all my failings as a man. Kind of like a confession. I wanted to reveal what beauty and triumph is left in failure – I appreciate that there are those in denial of it. To me that is a tragedy. A beautiful tragedy. Failure is real.“

He currently is on European tour and will grace the stage of Mitte’s newly reopened Acud to play his first Berlin show and present his vinyls. Support comes from Berlin born writer/ singer/ multifaced vinyl DJ Falko Teichmann on the decks. You can download Alex Cameron’s digital album for free or dig deeper in his written works on his amazing webpage.