Blue Orchids
A Darker Bloom
Cherry Red CDM RED 203
http://www.cherryred.co.uk/cherryred/blueorchids.htm
In the day, my neighbor Rick had the best taste in pop-oriented post punk
(for all I know he still does!) One any given afternoon, we'd sit on the front
porch, work on the better part of a case of Leinies', and he would spin any
number of amazing tunes and albums: Scritti Politti's "Bibbly O Tek",
The Mekons' "English Dancing Master", "Mr. Uddich - Schmuddich"
by the Laughing Clowns, and, his favorite band at the time: the Blue Orchids.
Rick was always a little disappointed in me for not 'discovering' them first,
as he knew me to be a huge Fall fan, and had been gathering up the newish
Marc Riley and the Creepers stuff.
Blue Orchids were the first (of many) ex-Fall members to form a new band:
both Martin Bramah (g, v) and Una Baines (k) were founding members (along
with bassist Tony Freil and Marc E. Smith) of Manchester's now legendary post
punk band.
The differences between Blue Orchid's and The Fall (ca. Witch Trials) were
subtle at first, sounding in large part like an unholy marriage between early
Television and The Doors (the circus-tent organ being the dead giveaway).
This is most clearly evidenced on aggressive early Blue Orchids singles like
"Disney Boys" and "The Flood" - angst and energy, but
with obtuse tunefulness as well. Their full-length outing of 1981, The Greatest
Hit extends these songwriting attributes with the evolution of Bramah's semi-tonedeaf
singing, and combines a bit mellower psychedelic feel. The best bits from
the LP "Sun Connection", "Dumb Magician" and the stunning
"Year With No Head" are all included on A Darker Bloom. It is useful
to hear the effect of backing Nico on her 81 tour - the entirety of the Agents
of Change EP is included - as it allowed the band to relax their song structures
and adopt a spacier sound altogether - check out the lovely ballad "The
Long Night Out." This compilation is completed with some work from 1991
with former Smiths member Greg Gannon (and after Bramah had another brief
stint in The Fall), and despite the half-decade gap, "Diamond Age"
blends seamlessly with the rest of the work. It makes one wish for Bramah
and company to be recording today, as the music only got better.
Top recommendation then, for any fans of the aforementioned bands or the Rough
Trade sound of the early Eighties, or of innovative pop music in general.
-William Mohline