12/05/23
Is there a curse that says Brian ‘BC Camplight’ Christinzio cannot move forward without being knocked back? That the greatest material is born out of emotional trauma?
Whilst making his new album The Last Rotation Of Earth, Christinzio’s relationship with his fiancé crumbled after nine inseparable years. The album follows this break-up amid long-term struggles with addiction and declining mental health. The outcome is an extraordinary record, with Christinzio describing it as “more cinematic, sophisticated, and nuanced than anything I’ve done before. And more desperate”.
That Christinzio has bettered his previous album is an achievement, given that Shortly After Takeoff received the best reviews of his life. “A masterpiece,” said The Guardian’s 5 star review, “a half hour or so that roils with anxiety, stuns with beauty and, occasionally, provokes laughter.” Even then, fate intervened when the album was released in April 2020, just as Covid and lockdown kicked in, so he was unable to tour the record until late 2021. The Philadelphian then joked, “I can't wait to make an album that isn’t surrounded by some awful tragedy.”
Acclaim for 2021’s Shortly After Takeoff (Bella Union):
“A tumultuous pop masterpiece. Brian Christinzio distils beauty from pain on this triumphant album.” The Guardian – 5 stars *****
“Heroic… A record of infinite twists… Bible-black humour and brilliantly fractured songs ensure Shortly After Takeoff is a joy.” Uncut – 9/10
“BC Camplight exceeds emotional baggage allowance in style….”
MOJO – 4 stars ****
“Adult pop that catalogues self-destruction and interior male ennui with a double-shot of gallows humour.”
Q – 4 stars ****
“Brian Christinzio has a gift for lush harmonies and droll lyrics, mixed together in ingeniously scored songs…”
Financial Times – 4 stars ****
“Electronic pop, icy funk and Eighties rock ensure it doesn’t get too serious…” The Times – 4 stars ****
“His fifth album is a real gem. The loveliest and strangest album of his career. “
