The Hidden Cameras Announce 20th Anniversary Reissue of Debut LP ‘The Smell Of Our Own’, Out April 14th
February 9, 2023
‘All-chiming sonic wonderment to convert even the coldest heart ’ – NME
‘a privilege to listen in.’ – The Observer
‘The Hidden Cameras make music as beautiful as the last boy who broke your heart.’ – The Gay Times
‘It transcends gender and genre.’ – Jon Savage / Mojo
The Hidden Cameras announce a 20th anniversary expanded deluxe reissue of their majestic debut album ‘The Smell of Our Own’ to be released on April 14th 2023. To mark the announcement of this reissue, both the rarely seen incendiary debut TV performance of ‘Ban Marriage’ and a never before seen document of their first radio session performing ‘Boys Of Melody’, are released. Plus newly unearthed is this very early Canadian TV news piece originally broadcast on CBC in 2002 showing Geoff Travis discovering the band in Toronto.
Playing self-proclaimed ‘Gay Church Folk Music’ a new genre of their own making and songs ranging from haunted, aching ballads to foot-stomping anthems, the band’s outrageous stage shows packed such disparate venues as sweaty dance bars, art museums, a working porn cinema as well as many churches. Fronted by lead singer-songwriter Joel Gibb, the ensemble continues its musical provocations to this day, with Berlin now as its centre of gravity.
A deluxe edition will be pressed as a 2 x LP edition on yellow vinyl and features bonus demos, B-sides and live session recordings.
A rare documentary film “Music Is My Boyfriend; a film about The Hidden Cameras” recently saw its european premiere in London at The Castle Cinema in november as part of the Doc ‘n’ Roll Festival. Filmed in 2002 and only screened once before in Toronto in 2005 under a different title, Music is my Boyfriend chronicles the early days of The Hidden Cameras in Toronto.The film features stunning live performances in 16mm of several tracks from the groups early live shows. The next screening will be on April 5th at Kulturhuset in Stockholm, Sweden alongside a live performance by The Hidden Cameras.
Watch the trailer here.
Tracklist:
1.Golden Streams
2.Ban Marriage
3.A Miracle
4.Animals Of Prey
5.Smells Like Happiness
6.The Day Is Dawning
7.Boys Of Melody
8.Shame
9.Breathe On It
10.The Man That I Am With My Man
11.Fear of ‘Zine Failure – B-Side
12.Boys Of Melody – CBC Session
13.Smells like Happiness – 4 Track Demo
14.Shame – CBC Session
15.Day is Dawning – CBC Session
16.The Dying Galatian – B-Side
17.Heavy Flow of Evil – B-Side
18.Ban Marriage – 4 Track Demo
19.Breathe On It – CBC Session
20.A Miracle – 4 Track Demo
EU & UK Tour Dates
20th March – La Nau, Barcelona, Spain
21st March – Loco Club, Valencia, Spain
22nd March – Teatro Eslava, Madrid, Spain
24th March – gnration, Braga, Portugal
25th March – Teatro Viriato, Viseu, Portugal
29th March – Tremor, Azores, Portugal
30th March – Culturgest, Lisbon, Portugal
31st March – Auditório de Espinho, Espinho, Portugal
2nd April – TBC, Copenhagen, Denmark
3rd April – Savoy Theatre, Helsinki, Finland
4th April – Silent Green, Berlin, Germany
5th April – Kulturhuset, Stockholm, Sweden + screening of “Music Is My Boyfriend’
8th April – Whelen’s, Dublin, Ireland
10th April – EartH Theatre, London