Camera Obscura's comparisons with Belle and Sebastian are not just limited to the delicacy of indie pop practiced by the band on their albums Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi (2002) and Underachievers Please Try Harder (2003). Like Stuart Murdoch's band, Camera Obscura was formed in the city of Glasgow, when, in 1996, Traceyanne Campbell (vocals, guitar) met John Henderson (vocals - percussion) at school. Soon Gavin Dunbar (bass) and David Skirving (guitar) joined the band, who began writing their first songs.
In 1998, the band released their first single, Park and Ride. Later, Lee Thompson (drums) joined the group and David Skirving left, being replaced by Kenny McKeeve.
On the album Underachievers Please Try Harder (2003), the band also features Nigel Baillie (trumpet) and Carey Lander (keyboards). In 2006, Camera Obscura released their third studio album Let's Get Out of This Country. Next came My Maudlin Career (2009). The band returned with a new studio album in 2013, when they released Desire Lines. In October 2015, keyboardist Carey Lander passed away from cancer.
In 2024, eleven years after Desire Lines, the band released their sixth album, Look to the East, Look to the West. The cover of this work features a photo of Fiona Morrison, who was also on the cover of Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi, the band's debut album.
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