Interview to Ben from Vendetta Magazine

Website: Vendetta

Robert Wratten has been one of the more unsung songwriting talents over the past decade, having made some classic records with The Field Mice, Northern Picture Library, and now, his latest incarnation Trembling Blue Stars. Their most recent album Broken By Whispers is probably Wratten’s strongest work to date, a mesmerizing combination of sensitive, soulful pop songs and achingly beautiful melancholic instrumentation. Most articles and reviews written about Trembling Blue Stars tend to focus on Robert’s breakup with former Field Mice and Northern Picture Library member Annemari Davies, the subject of a good number of TBS songs. And while I did ask a few specific questions about ‘the relationship,’ for the most part, I tried to capture the bigger picture and get a more complete look at one of today’s finest artists.

Robert: I guess the record does have a more organic sound, but it wasn’t really a conscious decision, I just tried to realize the arrangements I had in mind for the songs I’d written. There are electronics on the record but they’re used more as a flavoring rather than the main ingredient. I also think that Michael being back on bass steered the songs in a more organic direction. As for the record being darker this has only been brought to my attention since its completion. Apart from "Sleep" it never really occurred to me at the time.

Ben: Lyrically, the new songs are different, too, in that the themes are broader. While the past two records seemed to concentrate more on the specifics of your breakup with Annemari, on this record you seem to be evaluating a lot of aspects of your life. Were you in an especially philosophical state of mind when writing this album?

Robert: To a certain extent I guess I was, but I think you generally are when you’re writing songs. You put yourself in a position where you really think things through. Songs like "Sleep," "Dark Eyes," and "Ripples" were attempts to articulate feelings in order to feel better in my self. I wanted to acknowledge the feelings and also have them down on paper rather than swimming around inside me. I like the idea of catching feelings so that they’re slightly more tangible.

Robert: No, I don’t. I had to write those songs. For one thing I wrote the majority of Her Handwriting when there was no contact between myself and Annemari. It was my way of talking to her, of saying things I wanted to say. Jackson Browne once said "I’m not too careful about where I go and what I do" in response to a similar question. He said if you are careful then you’re not rock ‘n’ roll! I agree with him!

Robert: Not really, because we eased back into things gently. She sang "The Rainbow" and "Tailspin," neither of which touched on our relationship. It would have been hard for her to sing a very personal song at that point. However, she was in the studio when I sang "Though I Still Want to Fall Into Your Arms," and I just sang it to her. I couldn’t actually see her, I hasten to add! Now, there really isn’t a problem. We’ve always collaborated on personal songs. It’s surprising how easy it is for us. It was only with the final Northern Picture Library songs that it was ever awkward ("Norfolk Windmills" and "Signs").

Robert: After seeing this question I asked Annemari! First, and foremost, she said she really loves Her Handwriting. Obviously, it’s the hardest record for her to listen to and for a long while she didn’t. She says it made her sad and angry but mostly she found it poignant—the writing really affected her. The album captures us at a time when we weren’t talking and it’s obviously the most difficult record for her. She wanted to be with me. I wanted to be with her. We were both missing each other—it tells of quite a grim time.

Robert: A lot of people seemed to be surprised by this but for us it’s perfectly natural. We started out as close friends and we both want to have the other person in our life. Basically we just hung in there and things started to get better and easier.

Robert: Trembling Blue Stars have played very few gigs. We did seven around the time of the first record and since then I’ve done one solo acoustic gig. So that’s eight gigs in about three and a half years! I do intend to start playing live again soon. So far the band gigs have consisted of a mixture of live and programmed stuff. I actually find this quite limiting and eventually I’d like everything played live. I’d like to work out live arrangements of the songs and not worry too much about replicating the studio versions. The current live lineup consists of Michael and myself together with Harvey Williams. However this lineup will only play one gig in March! After that I’m looking to form a permanent band that I can tour with. This will hopefully feature Harvey, but unfortunately not Michael. He actually lives in France and it’s just not feasible for him to be involved long-term.

Ben: Looking back at your career (Field Mice, Northern Picture Library, and Trembling Blue Stars), which works (songs and LPs) are you most proud of? Looking back at your career (Field Mice, Northern Picture Library, and Trembling Blue Stars), which works (songs and LPs) are you most proud of?

Robert: I’m most proud of the Trembling Blue Stars. I think that’s where my best stuff can be found. Her Handwriting will always be special to me but I think the very best songs are on Lips That Taste of Tears and Broken By Whispers. Having said that I really like "What Can I Say to Change Your Heart?" and "Do People Ever?" As far as Northern Picture Library goes, I like "Insecure," "Untitled #Three," and "Signs" amongst others. It’s more difficult with The Field Mice because we really grew up on record. But I like "Missing The Moon," "Five Moments," "Tilting At Windmills," "So Said Kay," and "Between Hello and Goodbye." I’m most proud of the Trembling Blue Stars. I think that’s where my best stuff can be found. Her Handwriting will always be special to me but I think the very best songs are on Lips That Taste of Tears and Broken By Whispers. Having said that I really like "What Can I Say to Change Your Heart?" and "Do People Ever?" As far as Northern Picture Library goes, I like "Insecure," "Untitled #Three," and "Signs" amongst others. It’s more difficult with The Field Mice because we really grew up on record. But I like "Missing The Moon," "Five Moments," "Tilting At Windmills," "So Said Kay," and "Between Hello and Goodbye."

Robert: In a way I treat every record as the last one. I try to use every idea I’ve got in case I don’t get another chance. There is, however, no reason there couldn’t have been a second Northern Picture Library album if things had gone differently. It’s weird, though, because I feel Her Handwriting was such a leap forward, and it was only by going so close to the edge that I was able to do that. So at least something good came out of every thing that happened. But to answer your question, no, the Northern Picture Library wasn’t intended as a one-off. In a way I treat every record as the last one. I try to use every idea I’ve got in case I don’t get another chance. There is, however, no reason there couldn’t have been a second Northern Picture Library album if things had gone differently. It’s weird, though, because I feel Her Handwriting was such a leap forward, and it was only by going so close to the edge that I was able to do that. So at least something good came out of every thing that happened. But to answer your question, no, the Northern Picture Library wasn’t intended as a one-off.

Ben: Do you view Trembling Blue Stars as a proper group or more as a vehicle for your songs? What are your plans for TBS down the line (i.e. touring, new recordings)? Do you view Trembling Blue Stars as a proper group or more as a vehicle for your songs? What are your plans for TBS down the line (i.e. touring, new recordings)?

Robert: So far it’s really been my "solo project" for want of a better phrase. As I’ve said though I would like it to be a proper band, albeit one that only does my songs! I want to tour definitely, especially in the U.S. Also, I’m starting to think about the next record. I really want to make a pop album—twelve short-ish songs. A nice concise album like This Year’s Model or Armed Forces! So far it’s really been my "solo project" for want of a better phrase. As I’ve said though I would like it to be a proper band, albeit one that only does my songs! I want to tour definitely, especially in the U.S. Also, I’m starting to think about the next record. I really want to make a pop album—twelve short-ish songs. A nice concise album like This Year’s Model or Armed Forces!

Robert: Favorite songwriters include Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, Mark Eitzel, Mark Kozalek, Jeff Buckley. I also love The Clash, The Pet Shop Boys, and obvious stuff like Gram Parsons, Nick Drake, and Big Star. I like Galaxie 500, Stereolab, Yo La Tengo, a lot of the stuff that the Blood and Fire label reissues, and stuff like Dave Godin’s Deep Soul Treasures compilations. At the moment I’m listening to Etta James and Billie Holiday a lot. I’ve also been listening to Johnny Thunders’ acoustic album Hurt Me from 1984, the Ramones anthology, "Hot Coals" by Evan Dando, and lots of Lemonheads stuff. I’ve never really stopped listening to people like Elvis Costello or Jackson Browne or American Music Club. Favorite songwriters include Elvis Costello, Jackson Browne, Mark Eitzel, Mark Kozalek, Jeff Buckley. I also love The Clash, The Pet Shop Boys, and obvious stuff like Gram Parsons, Nick Drake, and Big Star. I like Galaxie 500, Stereolab, Yo La Tengo, a lot of the stuff that the Blood and Fire label reissues, and stuff like Dave Godin’s Deep Soul Treasures compilations. At the moment I’m listening to Etta James and Billie Holiday a lot. I’ve also been listening to Johnny Thunders’ acoustic album Hurt Me from 1984, the Ramones anthology, "Hot Coals" by Evan Dando, and lots of Lemonheads stuff. I’ve never really stopped listening to people like Elvis Costello or Jackson Browne or American Music Club.

Ben: What’s your opinion of the UK indie pop scene at the moment? Do you feel kinship with any current artists, UK or elsewhere? What’s your opinion of the UK indie pop scene at the moment? Do you feel kinship with any current artists, UK or elsewhere?

Robert: I must admit that I find it quite hard to find new things in the "indie" area that I like. Bands that I like a lot like Low or Yo La Tengo or Broadcast or Stereolab have all been around a while. Maybe I just don’t get to hear things, although I do try to keep up! To me too much stuff just sounds too similar. I like bands like Broadcast that have a distinctive sound. The wave of bands that followed Britpop were pretty uninspiring to my ears. I still buy loads of records but not that many new "indie" things. I must admit that I find it quite hard to find new things in the "indie" area that I like. Bands that I like a lot like Low or Yo La Tengo or Broadcast or Stereolab have all been around a while. Maybe I just don’t get to hear things, although I do try to keep up! To me too much stuff just sounds too similar. I like bands like Broadcast that have a distinctive sound. The wave of bands that followed Britpop were pretty uninspiring to my ears. I still buy loads of records but not that many new "indie" things.

Ben: Do you think the recent retrospective has/will put The Field Mice in a new light? The reviews I’ve seen have been great, whereas during the heyday of The Field Mice you were too often unfairly dismissed as one of those ‘twee’ Sarah Records bands. Do you think the recent retrospective has/will put The Field Mice in a new light? The reviews I’ve seen have been great, whereas during the heyday of The Field Mice you were too often unfairly dismissed as one of those ‘twee’ Sarah Records bands.

Robert: The reviews were good and the retrospective sold surprisingly well. When we decided to do it we didn’t know what to expect. We weren’t sure whether there would be any interest or not, but as it turned out there was. It’s just nice, I guess, that after all this time there’s still a following for the band. Our press at the time, when we got it, was actually quite good. It’s just that mostly we were ignored. The people who dismissed us as twee were, I think, just going on received wisdom rather than making their own minds up. I think for a band that grew up on record and were only recording for three years we’ve stood the test of time quite well. Even now there’s still the occasional mention of us here and there.

Ben: The Field Mice were quite underrated in their time, despite being not all that dissimilar to groups such as The Smiths and The Go-Betweens. Do you feel you were just unlucky, or were there other factors that kept you from being more commercially successful? The Field Mice were quite underrated in their time, despite being not all that dissimilar to groups such as The Smiths and The Go-Betweens. Do you feel you were just unlucky, or were there other factors that kept you from being more commercially successful?

Robert: We certainly didn’t go out of our way to be successful. We could be awkward and we shied away from anything we considered show business! But also there were other things. We couldn’t do the band full-time and in some ways we’d gone as far as we could. We certainly didn’t go out of our way to be successful. We could be awkward and we shied away from anything we considered show business! But also there were other things. We couldn’t do the band full-time and in some ways we’d gone as far as we could.

Robert: No. Although we’ve all played together since in different permutations the idea of the five us getting back together just seems a little sad to be honest. There was a television program about punk on British TV recently, and so many of the bands had reformed and without exception they were awful. I just think it’s a really bad idea. No. Although we’ve all played together since in different permutations the idea of the five us getting back together just seems a little sad to be honest. There was a television program about punk on British TV recently, and so many of the bands had reformed and without exception they were awful. I just think it’s a really bad idea.