Running With The Hurricane. Camp Cope

Camp Cope is a totally new name for me. It is a trio from Melbourne in Australia and with Running With The Hurricane releases its third album since 2015, when the band formed. Described as part Courtney Barnett part Juliana Hatfield on Wikipedia, I can only confirm that Camp Cope has taken the best parts of both artists, as I have far less doubts with Camp Cope than with the other two singers.

The description puts Camp Cope in the alternative rock segment of popular music. Which is totally correct, with a huge exception and that is that in my opinion singer, and guitarist, Georgia McDonald's voice would fit perfectly in semi-country acts like Hazeldine and Dixie Chicks. Female fronted bands with higher, a little shrill voices that can endlessly please. McDonald's voice certainly fits in there.

Listening to a song like 'One Wink At A Time' the music comes close to Hazeldine as well. It goes to show how close genres can be. The difference may not be more that slightly louder singing and more prominent drums, played by Sarah Thompson, and bass guitar. The latter is not just prominent. I notice it to have a special role in the music of Camp Cope. Kelly-Dawn Hellmrich plays bass in such a way that it becomes the lead instrument of the band. She plays extremely nice bass patterns that make 'One Wink At A Time' and most of the songs stand out. Hellmrich may not be a John Entwistle (yet?), her approach to her instrument allows me to call her as aspiring to be.

As I'm not familiar with the band's previous work, it may be that during the Covid lockdowns the band reinvented itself. As the more often I listen to Running With The Hurricane the less I understand the Courtney Barnett and Juliana Hatfield comparison. This music has nothing to do with the 1990s nor with the slacker rock of Barnett, whose last album nearly caused me to fall asleep after a few listening sessions. I realise I have to be careful here, as Ms. Barnett plays guitar on two song of the album. Camp Cope is so much alive and the music has so much nuances within it. McDonald is able to sing with a slacker intonation, like on 'Love Like You Do'. But then listen to what Hellmrich is doing all through the song. Besides the fact that McDonald's voice is much fuller that is. I'm wide awake alright.

Over the past weeks I found myself returning to Running With The Hurricane quite regularly. This is an instantly satisfying kind of album, where people who may have very different tastes in music may actually find each other. For me it is an ideal mix. The last time I've encountered it may be in Hazeldine's 'Drive' somewhere in the later 1990s. And that tells you something, if you know what 'Drive' means to me that is.

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