Doubling as the (married
couple) indie duo’s fourth record and the soundtrack to the documentary
directorial debut of one half of that duo, Summer Camp’s Romantic
Comedy is a delight. I’ve not seen Elizabeth Sankey’s film yet: it’s a
doc on the history of the romantic comedy, and I understand it gives far more
artistic credit to the genre than romcoms usually receive, while also
subjecting their heteronormative happy-ever-afters to a firm dose of 2020
vision. This excellent collection of songs fit that mix of celebration and
critique perfectly, and I’m sure elevate the film, but the album for me has
been entirely standalone. One part breezy quirk-pop; one part rumination on the
lies our culture tells us (most pertinently, that all men are princes charming);
one part genuinely heartfelt sketches of love and loss. It’s a beautiful, if
occasionally arch, record. The album has been (over?) produced – by the duo’s
other half, Jeremy Warmsley – to within an inch of its life. But, like many
romcoms themselves, the polished sheen is important to the overall aesthetic.
Shiny but with lots to see in the reflection.