HIP CHECK: Blue Orchids Live Again… and Again
Martin Bramah’s Blue Orchids arose from the early days of churn surrounding legendary post-punk icons The Fall in 1978. Co-founder and co-writer of their first album, Live At The Witch Trials, he left after that album. With his head still full of music, he started the Orchids. At the time, the band included two other former Fall members, keyboardist Una Baines, and guitarist Rick Goldstraw.
“They rave but they are not mad.”
–Paul Morley, music writer, reviewing the Orchids second single “Work”
The Blue Orchids emerged from The Fall’s early turbulence in 1979 and their first album, The Greatest Hit, was released in 1982. Even with it’s on-again-off-again nature in the 80s and 90s, the band has never truly been away. According to Wikipedia, the Orchids have had somewhere north of 25 members across their history — a considerable number, indeed, but nothing compared to The Fall’s notoriously liquid line-up which, upon Smith’s death in 2018 and the band’s subsequent demise, had accumulated more than 60 former members. If one could survive Mark, it seems, one could survive pretty much anything.
Carry On And Book More Dates
More than 40 years later, the Blue Orchids, still strong and viable, currently consist of:
- Martin Bramah — vocals, guitar
- John Paul Moran — keyboards
- De Selby Lewis — bass
- Howard Jones — drums
- Tansy McNally — electric ukulele
Bramah has been the consistent note across all those years. He remains a hardworking and productive Manchester musician with a slew of bands, labels, albums, and fans (John Peel) to his name. Highlights along the Orchid’s journey include touring with Nico of Velvet Underground fame and opening for Echo and the Bunnymen. From the start the Orchids were more than just “post-punk.” Their flavor comes with a twist: haunting, psychedelic melodies; mysteriously wandering keyboards and staccato, sometimes stream-of-consciousness lyrics.
″Think Tom Verlaine guesting with The Doors… one of the most engaging and intriguing bands of the 80s″
— Former Fall Member and BBC DJ Marc Riley
The Song’s The Thing
Okay, ’nuff said. Bramah and company long ago earned their bones and that brings us to what I really want to discuss. The band detoured in 2019 with The Magical Record Of Blue Orchids. This collection of cover songs in a concept-album form clearly showcased Bramah’s diverse taste. Of note is “Pavement And The Boot,” from Orange County, California’s The Growlers. That’s almost 5,300 miles from Manchester, for those keeping track. Said Bramah, “They’re one of my fave bands of the last decade.”
The Orchid’s version differs from the Growlers’ with higher energy and a more filled-out arrangement that suits the song’s urgency. The Orchid’s trademark curling keyboard lines bring a darkness to this uptempo piece. “Pavement” examines the risk and reward of escaping the mundanities of daily life. This topic doesn’t necessarily render the song unique in these days of self-absorption and reflection, but the Orchids bring more than enough “oomph” to make it shine.
This song continues the thread of Bramah’s skeptical, cynical-but-insightful point of view that reaches all the way back to the Blue Orchids first album, 1982’s The Greatest Hit. For reference, check out Work, Disney Boys, and The Flood from that album. Una Baines’ keyboard work is eerily reminiscent of Steve Nieve from Elvis Costello’s Attractions. The question of who influenced who more is a toss-up. All those songs, as it turns out, were favorites of legendary British radio host and taste-maker John Peel.
“Blue Orchids endure as a living treasure of head music for post-punks”
— Bandcamp comment
Earlier this year (1/4/22), Bramah’s Facebook page revealed a card or two. Bramah posted “I’ve already made the best album of 2022 so don’t bother with your lists this year.” Tantalizingly, he has made no further comment on the subject.
Bramah’s Blue Orchids: Just Listen
Spend some time with this band. Despite having been under the radar in the States for pretty much their entire existence, they have a tremendous track record in the UK and won’t disappoint. Based on Bramah’s Facebook post, this hungry music fan is excited!
Close your eyes. Open your mind. Trust your ears.
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