Neil Dey and keyboard player Ryan Simons started writing songs in 2002 with Dey bringing in guitar rock meanderings and Simons bringing in an array of electronic sounds. The two quickly recruited a rhythm section, but after a few shows and personnel departures, disbanded just as quickly.
By 2004, Dey and Simons were back with Matt Langly on second guitar, Eric Dennison on bass and Mark Campbell playing drums.
The band recorded their debut-demo-ep last summer at Jason Hayden's basement studio, the Playground, sometimes using as many as 30 tracks to create a somewhat vaguely unique wall of sound. The disc mastered by Kevin Mcmahon at The Walkmen's Marcata Studios in lower east Manhattan. "Alive on Departure" was released late spring of 2005 on the bands own Wall to Wall Records label.
Lyrically, the album explores the tension and fear that complicates daily American life. Subjects such as paranoia, isolation, and an overall awareness of society losing itself are clearly present within the three minute blasts that populate the album.
With "Alive on Departure" still warm on the shelves, Instant Camera already has fanciful visions of leaving Louisville to record an EP later this year and possibly wandering up north for a tour.
