Th… Read Full Bio ↴Aztec Camera was a Scottish Indie pop/New Wave band from Glasgow.
The line-up of the band changed several times over the years, but the constant member had been guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Roddy Frame. Founding members included Campbell Owens (bass) and Dave Mulholland (drums). Ex-Bluebells bassist Craig Gannon was a member from 1983 through 1985, before joining The Smiths. Guitarist Malcolm Ross (formerly of Josef K and Orange Juice) also joined in 1983, and appeared on the Knife album.
Aztec Camera first gained recognition as part of the Scottish post-punk scene along with bands like Orange Juice and Josef K, all of which released singles on the influential Glasgow-based label Postcard records. The band's first UK 7" single was released by Postcard in 1981, containing the songs "Just Like Gold" and "We Could Send Letters". The latter was included on the NME's C81 compilation, which pointed strongly towards the future C86 indie pop movement in the United Kingdom.
Though most commonly remembered generally as part of the 80s New Wave era, Aztec Camera has gone through numerous stylistic changes throughout their career, ranging from stripped-down, almost pastoral post-punk to slicker, more sophisticated pop rock as well as jazz and latin influenced acoustic ballads. As Roddy Frame's guitar playing has always been the signature of the band's music, guitar pop might be a more succinct description.
Aztec Camera's debut album, High Land, Hard Rain, was released in 1983. However, Owens and Mulholland left the group before the release, leaving Frame to complete the album alone. The album was quite successful, gathering significant critical acclaim for its well-crafted, multi-layered pop. The band went on to release a total of six albums, although most of these were essentially written and played by Frame. The albums included Knife (1984), Love (1987), Stray (1990), Dreamland (1993) and Frestonia (1995).
After the release of their sixth album, Frestonia, Frame finally dissolved the band to go solo.
Popular songs by Aztec Camera include "Oblivious", "Somewhere in My Heart", and "Good Morning Britain" (a duet with former Clash guitarist Mick Jones).
The group have also done cover versions of Blue Orchids "Bad Education", and a slowed-down version of Van Halen's Jump.
A 'Best of' collection was released in 1999.
Notting Hill Blues
Aztec Camera Lyrics
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The tremblin' and the tears
It takes a long time comin' out
It's comin' out of here
I've been wandering your London town
And it's wearin' out my shoes
It's a long road comin' down
But when you hold me and really make love to me
I know that love is true forgiveness
Time on my mind is time spent with you
But it's time that I can't find
With the Notting Hill blues
Lovers pass me on the gate
Like distant cousins, removed
Holding hands and it seems like an act of fate
And I'm almost moved
But love has left me standing still
With no directions and no clues
No speech to let my feelings loose
A celebration of the blues
Hold me and really make love to me
And I know that love is true forgiveness
Out on the road I was down with the crew
Now I'm all alone, on the run
With the Notting Hill blues
And it's a lonely, lonely, lonely time
Sadness preys upon my mind
But a telephone and a bottle of booze
But who do you call when your tongue tied up all night
Hold me and really make love to me
And I know your love is true
Time on my mind is time spent with you
But you don't find time
With the Notting Hill blues
With the Notting Hill blues
Notting Hill blues, Notting Hill blues, Notting Hill blues
The song "Notting Hill Blues" by Aztec Camera speaks about loneliness, heartbreak, and a search for forgiveness. The opening lines, "All the madness in the mirror, The tremblin' and the tears, It takes a long time comin' out, It's comin' out of here" suggest the inner turmoil and struggle that the singer is going through. He is introspective and can see his own pain and sadness reflected in the mirror as he tries to make sense of his feelings. The subsequent lines reveal that he is in London and it is a place where he has lost his bearings, wandering aimlessly - "I've been wandering your London town, And it's wearin' out my shoes, It's a long road comin' down, Comin' down with the blues."
While he is out in the city, he sees couples around him and how they seem to have found true love. This intensifies his own feelings of loneliness and further deepens his sense of despair - "Lovers pass me on the gate, Like distant cousins, removed, Holding hands and it seems like an act of fate, And I'm almost moved." He cannot shake off his emotional burden and feels lost, with no directions or clues, until he meets someone who can help him find his way out in the end - "But love has left me standing still, With no directions and no clues, No speech to let my feelings loose, A celebration of blues."
The chorus of the song is a plea for love and forgiveness, which he knows he can find with the right person - "Hold me and really make love to me, And I know that love is true forgiveness, Time on my mind is time spent with you, But it's time that I can't find, With the Notting Hill blues." The song ends with a sense of hopelessness even though he knows that love is the answer to his problems - "And it's a lonely, lonely, lonely time, Sadness preys upon my mind, But a telephone and a bottle of booze, But who do you call when your tongue tied up all night."
Line by Line Meaning
All the madness in the mirror
The reflection I see in the mirror shows all the craziness and confusion in my mind
The tremblin' and the tears
I'm filled with anxiety and sadness, causing me to shake and cry
It takes a long time comin' out
It's difficult and takes a lot of effort to express and release those feelings
It's comin' out of here
I'm finally starting to open up and let my emotions be heard
I've been wandering your London town
I've been aimlessly walking around London, feeling lost and unsure
And it's wearin' out my shoes
My constant wandering has resulted in my shoes becoming worn out
It's a long road comin' down
The journey ahead of me is going to be challenging and require a lot of patience
Comin' down with the blues
I'm feeling down and depressed
But when you hold me and really make love to me
When we are intimate and share a deep connection, I feel loved and forgiven
I know that love is true forgiveness
Love has the power to heal and offer forgiveness for past mistakes
Time on my mind is time spent with you
I wish I could spend all my time with you
But it's time that I can't find
Sadly, I'm unable to find enough time to be with you as much as I would like
Lovers pass me on the gate
I see other couples walking by, feeling like an outsider to love
Like distant cousins, removed
They seem so far away and unfamiliar to me
Holding hands and it seems like an act of fate
It looks like they have been destined to be together, a concept that I struggle to believe
And I'm almost moved
Their display of love almost makes me feel a flicker of hope towards love
But love has left me standing still
I feel stagnant and stuck without love in my life
With no directions and no clues
I'm unsure of how to navigate love and find what I'm looking for
No speech to let my feelings loose
I struggle to express my emotions and talk about my feelings
A celebration of the blues
My sadness has become so overwhelming that it feels like it's taking over my life
Out on the road I was down with the crew
I used to be traveling and spending time with others, but now I'm alone and feeling low
Now I'm all alone, on the run
I'm running from my feelings and trying to escape them by being alone
But who do you call when your tongue tied up all night
I want to reach out for help, but I'm struggling to find the right words to express what I'm feeling
And it's a lonely, lonely, lonely time
My isolation and sadness is making me feel very alone
Sadness preys upon my mind
My sadness is constantly weighing on my mind and causing me distress
But a telephone and a bottle of booze
I may try to numb my pain with phone calls and alcohol
Hold me and really make love to me
The intimacy that we share can offer me comfort and healing
And I know your love is true
I believe that your love is genuine and authentic
But you don't find time
Unfortunately, you are too busy and can't find time for me right now
With the Notting Hill blues
I'm still feeling down and depressed, despite my attempts to find love and happiness
Notting Hill blues, Notting Hill blues, Notting Hill blues
I'm stuck in this feeling of sadness and don't know how to get out
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RODDY FRAME
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind