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In the day, my neighbour 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.
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