As the title of this fantastic retrospective collection suggests, THE BLUE ORCHIDS’ recorded legacy has been kept under dark glass in a shadowy Manchester nursery for too long and deserves to be exhibited as an exotic perennial in its’ own right.
Initially, the idea of a band formed from escapees from THE FALL may not sound too enticing a prospect, but BLUE ORCHIDS mainstays Martin Bramah (guitar/vocals) and Una Baines (keyboards) were in at that group’s inception and clearly had a guiding influence on Mark E in the early days. Indeed, Bramah’s quizzical, reptilian glare that graces the cover of "A Darker Bloom" suggests a keen, Brian Eno-style intelligence.
And that’s certainly borne out by the 19 tracks on "A Darker Bloom". Coupling together tracks from the Mancunians crucial Rough Trade period (1980-82), plus songs from the later Playtime Records phase (with a line up featuring ex-SMITH Craig Gannon). Frankly it’s virtually all stupendous; the kind of tuneful, but
tangential, wigged-out pop you yearn for people to make today.
THE BLUE ORCHIDS sound was undoubtedly defined by the early singles "Disney Boys", "Work" and its spooked B-side "The House That Faded Out"; all benefiting from Bramah’s frazzled, trebly Stratocaster and Una Baines’ whirling funfair organ tones. Bramah’s voice, while often straining at the leash on the earlier tunes, nonetheless gains confidence over time, his edgy larynx the perfect foil for mellifluous tunes like "Sun Connection" or, alternatively, the military harshness of "Dumb Magician."
Also attractive is the slightly lysergic, otherworldly feel of Bramah’s lyrics, throwing up fascinating oddities like "sixteen, Infinity Street" ("The House That Faded Out") or "I spent a year with no head/ not a care in the world" from the gently warped "A Year With No Head") that offer up as many possibilities as Mr.Smith’s incredible, early, Supernaturally-influenced phase.
|
Clearly, THE BLUE ORCHIDS’ spell as backing group to doomed legend NICO circa ’81 paid off surprisingly well, too, as the four tracks from the ace 1982 "Agents Of Change" here are magnificent. Overall, they feature a spacier, almost cavernous sound, ranging from the strident, and purposeful title track to the surprisingly lonely ballad "The Long Night Out" and are glittering prizes one and all.
Astonishingly, the final couple of tracks here, representing Bramah’s last ORCHIDS incarnation circa 1991-92 retain the high quality tag. Your correspondent was lucky enough to catch this line up play a great show (with THE BOO RADLEYS) at the old Highbury T&C 2 in London and, although unfamiliar with much of the material at the time, remember great songs like "Diamond Age" and "Out Of Sight" from that bash. "Diamond Age" is an extremely powerful (yes!) pop song with delicious rippling keyboards and "Out Of Sight" rounds things off beautifully; a nocturnal, rhythmic thang with whispery vocals from Martin and a surprise guitar solo. Lovely.
Complete with informative liner notes from both Cherry Red and Marc "Lard" Riley, "A Darker Bloom" is already a strong contender for the compilation of the year (really!) and makes you feel desperate to get your hands on Bramah and Baines’ rarities with THIRST and THE FATES respectively.
"Have you noticed? Nothing seems built to last anymore" deadpans Bramah during "The Long Night Out". Well, he’s no problem on that score here. With "A Darker Bloom", THE BLUE ORCHIDS reputation can only continue to flourish, however late in the season.
|
