Trembling Blue Stars - Fast Trains and Telegraph Wires
by Anthony Strutt
published: 4 / 3 / 2011
Label:
Elefant Records
Format: CD X2
intro
Fantastic seventh and final double CD album from acclaimed indie pop group, Trembling Blue Stars
Trembling Blue Stars are a great band from Croydon in South London. This is their seventh and sadly final album, which has been released as a double CD,the second CD being an EP. It starts with ‘My Face For the World to See’, which is very upbeat, like the Smiths and New Order, all rolled up in one perfect bundle. It is a total joy with crystal clear vocals from singer Bobby Wratten and perfectly played guitars. ‘All Our Tomorrows’ is dance based, but hints at early Gothic-like Cure moments. As soon as the vocal kicks in, it takes you over completely. It is a true love song, the way it should be told. ‘In Arrivals’ is slow and jangly with lush backing vocals from former Aberdeen vocalist Beth Arzy, which eventually make way for Bobby's main vocal. This is the sort of material that Prefab Sprout in their early years were great at. ‘Frosting’ sounds like a song made for Christmas and is a chill out number. ‘The Imperfection of Memory’ is sung by Miaow's Cath Carroll and has an element of Everything But the Girl with its soft jazz sound which is very gentle on the ears and heart. ‘The Dark World of the Broken’ is a tribute to the Cure with big bass lines, moody guitars and a vocal that sucks you in for the journey. ‘Cold Colours’ is another tribute to the Cure, mixed with vocals that Bernard Sumner from New Order would kill for. ‘Half Light’ is sung by Beth and is a gentle number for the lost and lonely. ‘Tropic of Capricorn’ is Bobby's finest number ever. It recalls ‘Since Yesterday’ by Strawberry Switchblade until Bobby's vocal takes it elsewhere. A perky indie pop that brings a smile every time, it would make a great single. ‘The Last Four Winters of the War/Grey Silk Storm’ is a well-paced anti-war song played on acoustic guitar before in its second part it moves into electronic weirdness. ‘The Hidden Quarter’ is also sung by Beth and beautifully arranged and performed is like a near perfect Christmas number to the world. The EP is called ‘Cicely Tonight Part One’. When part two is released later this year it will be their final farewell to the world. ‘The Floating World’, which is short and perfect, casts your bad day to yesterday and keeps it there. ‘The Lowest Arc’ opens with with pleasant guitar and piano and is sung by Annemari Davies of the Field Mice, which was in Bobby's former band and who is also his ex-girlfriend. ‘Radioactive Decay’ is an ambient and experimental instrumental number, while ‘Not For Second Prize’, a cover of a song by Dream Academy, is as perfect as an early Nick Drake number. ‘Outside’ is like an experimental film soundtrack music, while ‘The Floating world (Reprise) features more chilled out ambience. ‘No More Sad Songs’, which is uncredited, ends the CD and is joyful and lovely and, like much of this album, is a perfect love letter to the world
Track Listing:-
1 My Face For The World To See2 All Our Tomorrows
3 In Arrivals
4 Frosting
5 The Imperfection Of Memory
6 The Dark World Of The Broken
7 Cold Colours
8 Half-Light
9 Tropic Of Capricorn
10 The Last Four Winters Of The War / Grey Silk Storm
11 The Hidden Quarter
12 The Floating World
13 The Lowest Arc
14 Radioactive Decay
15 Not For Second Prize
16 Outside
Label Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/elefantukhttp://www.elefantuk.com/
https://twitter.com/elefantuk
http://elefant.com/
interviews |
|
Interview Part 4 (2007) |
|
| In the fourth and last part of his extensive interview with Bobby Wratten and Beth Arzy from Trembling Blue Stars, Anthony Strutt talks to them about the reissue of their entire back catalogue and why they have decided to abandon live work |
| Interview Part 3 (2006) |
| Interview Part 2 (2006) |
| Part 1 (2006) |
| Interview with Bobby Wratten (2002) |
features |
|
A Certain Blue Light (2003) |
|
| The Trembling Blue Stars are about to consolidate their position "as The Great Nineties Pop Band That Never Happened’ with a Best Of or Greatest Near-Hits. David McNamee looks back over their career and finds an odd resemblance in it to Kylie Minogue's |
reviews |
|
Correspondence EP (2011) |
|
| Poignant but entrancing farewell EP from acclaimed indie pop band, Trembling Blue Stars |
| Exploring the Shadows (2007) |
| The Last Holy Writer (2007) |
| Bathed In Blue (2005) |
| Slow Soft Sighs (2002) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Peter Doherty - Blackheath Halls, Blackheath and Palace Halls, Watford, 18/3/2025 and 21/3/2025Yardbirds - Interview with Jim McCarty
Johnny Cash - Video Vault
Max Bianco and the BlueHearts - Troubadour, London, 29/3/2025
John Philip Shenale - Interview
Deb Googe and Cara Tivey - Interview
Armory Show - Interview with Richard Jobson
Man From Delmonte - Interview
Loft - Interview
Vapors - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Bryan Ferry and Amelia Barrett - Loose TalkIvor Game - When Will You Fall Into My Loving Arms?
Gabriel Moreno - Nights in the Belly of Bohemia
Doris Brendel and Lee Dunham - Big Blue Sky
Brooke Combe - Dancing at the Edge of the World
Shaw's Trailer Park - I Thought I Saw You
Bryan Adams - Live at the Royal Albert Hall 2024
Ringo Starr - Look Up
FKA twigs - Eusexua
Leon Bridges - Leon
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart