Rough Trade have announced a 20th anniversary expanded deluxe reissue of the Toronto-based The Hidden Cameras‘ debut album ‘The Smell of Our Own’ (tracklisting below) to be released on April 14th 2023, and featuring bonus demos and live session recordings of what their band leader, Joel Gibb, called ‘gay folk church music’.
They were, as these videos attest, well known for their chaotic shows, driven more by punk energy than perfection. Their discography is wide-ranging if you include the last album, Home On Native Land, released in 2016. It was a celebratory Americana ode to his native Canada that featured an impressive guestlist, including Mary Margaret O’Hara, Feist, Ron Sexsmith, Neil Tennant, and Rufus Wainwright. A far cry from the music presented here – reminiscent of the indie pop offerings of The Magnetic Fields but crossed with the Akron/Family circa Ed is a Portal (not yet out – 2007) with a heavy dose of the anarchic (more on the album below).
To mark this reissue of ‘The Smell of Our Own’, their 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.
Also unearthed is this very early Canadian TV news piece originally broadcast on CBC in 2002 showing Geoff Travis discovering the band in Toronto.
Debut Album
The Hidden Cameras burst onto the Toronto music scene in the early 2000’s boasting an irresistible combination of pop and queer sensibilities. 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.
The Hidden Cameras had yet to release a note of commercially available music when, in early 2002, they became among the most discussed and celebrated unsigned bands in the history of their native Toronto. By the close of the year, they had been the subject of uncommonly sensational features in The Globe and Mail (Canada’s national newspaper) as well as in every daily and weekly in Toronto. The reasons for the reckless enthusiasm of these usually cautious journals was simple: revelatory live performances that attacked and transcended the staid, dispassionate traditions of rock nightclub culture; and the songs of band front-man and mastermind Joel Gibb, a talent of uncommon melodic and poetic gifts. ‘The Smell of Our Own’, The Hidden Cameras debut album was originally released in April 2003 on Rough Trade to tremendous critical acclaim.
The Hidden Cameras will perform anniversary shows around Europe and the UK in March and April 2023 to coincide with the reissue of ‘The Smell Of Our Own’, including a show at eartH, London with original string player Owen Pallett on April 10th, full tour dates below.
Pre-Order The Smell Of Your Own 20th Anniversary Edition here
THE HIDDEN CAMERAS – ‘THE SMELL OF OUR OWN’ 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION 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 O 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
THE HIDDEN CAMERAS 2023 EUROPEAN & UK TOUR WITH OWEN PALLETT
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
28th 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’ film
8th April – Whelen’s, Dublin, Ireland
10th April – EartH Theatre, London