Pick a Star That's Blue

Used with permisson - © Simon
Interview to Simon for Music for Girls #1 (August 1999)

Bobby Wratten wowed many an indie-kid as singer-songwriter in The Field Mice and latterly Northern Picture Library. He now exists in the form of Trembling Blue Stars. We asked him about his life, his loves and his admiration of The Stereophonics...

Have you started recording the next Trembling Blue Stars record? Can you tease us with some info-nuggets?

Yes, I have started recording the new album, although only just. I'm recording 18 songs to be spread across a 7" single (blue vinyl!), an EP and album to be called "All He Paints Is Her". Some songs include Ripples (a song in sections - my very own Bohemian Rhapsody!), Fragile (an abstract Talk Talk-esque song), Birthday Girl (not the Microdisney song!), Snow Showers (a psychedelic song about the transcendental splendour of the late night shipping forecast) and Dark Eyes (a song not about but somewhat under the spell of the actress Monica Bellucei).

How do you choose your song titles? Are they deliberately getting longer?

These days, song titles are nearly always derived from a phrase in the lyric that I like the sound of when it's divorced from the song. This didn't always used to be the case. Many Field Mice and Northern Picture Library songs had titles that had nothing to do with the words. Although there would often be some lateral connection or some kind of logic at work. Holland Street sounded a bit like The Beach Boys and so from their album title Holland I got to Glasgow's Holland Street. Norfolk Windmills came from a postcard that fitted in with the time that the song referred to. This Is Not Here was always known as Beatley and from that I got to the Yoko Ono exhibition This Is Not Here - and so on. They're not deliberately getting longer although some new songs are called Now That There's Nothing In The Way and Sometimes I Still Feel The Bruise. Blame Mark Eitzel!

Your records usually bring up a few surprises in terms of arrangement/style. I've heard that you've a new song called Doo-Wop Music.

I do have a song called Doo-Wop Music - it's actually going to be the first single from these sessions. It's not really a doo-wop song; more so about pictures painted by doo-wop music. 1 have singles by The Penguins and The Orioles but 1 don't know that much doo-wop actually. It was just an idea that came to me (based on real feelings) and it's really just a song about longing - aren't they all?!

Trembling Blue Stars songs remind me of film soundtracks. Is this an area that you'd consider exploring?

I actually know someone who is involved with putting film music together- he was responsible for the music used in The Myth of Fingerprints. He's often saying such and such a song of mine would work in a film. The trouble is I'm not well known enough to actually be seriously considered. I'd love to do a soundtrack but I'm sure it's so much harder than you imagine. It's really an artform in itself and maybe not something you dabble in. On a related note Willow is going to be used in a short film that's being entered in this year's Toronto Film Festival.

Will Michael andlor Annemari appear on the next record?

Both Michael and Annemari will be on the new album. It's the first time since The Field Mice that Michael and I are making a whole album together and Annemari will be involved in about 8 songs. For this record, Trembling Blue Stars is pretty much the three of us plus lan Catt. It'll almost be a Field Mice record!

What's the worst job you've had?

I don't really feel qualified to answer this question, as "proper" employment hasn't played too big a part in my life! Sorry!

What are you reading?

By Grand Central I Sat Down And Wept by Elizabeth Smart.

What's driving you mad?

Specifically, right now I really can't think. Pathetic, isn't it? The popularity of The Stereophonics mystifies me but it's not worth getting mad over! On a general level 1 hate any kind of bigotry, narrow-mindedness, intolerance, etc. So I'm intolerant of intolerance... hmmm.

I've always struggled to rind an adequate description for The Field Mice, usually settling for the feeble "jingly-jangly" tag. When my friends heard Five Moments, they thought I'd turned into an Enya fan! Have you ever been misunderstood?

Enya's not that bad. She's had her moments! For what it's worth, maybe people didn't appreciate the range of influences at work in the music. There is definitely an indie-pop element but 1 feel there's so much more and it doesn't often get picked up on. 1 think the music's much more varied than it's given credit for. But then again, and I'm tempting fate here! I've generally had good reviews. It's more the overall perception I'm referring to. Generally by people who haven't actually listened, they just know The Field Mice as the archetypal whinging wimps! 1 can live with it!!

I recently suggested to a friend that an ideal song for Belle & Sebastian to cover would be If You Need Someone, complete with a trumpet solo.

I think Belle & Sebastian can probably get by without resorting to Field Mice covers! I do think they're a good group though - their approach is just refreshing. They're probably as careerist as The Stereophonics (a second slagging) but at least they go about things in an interesting way. Kind of Factory/4AD-esque in tenns of being publicity shy. I've always liked that.

What was it like working with Bob Stanley? How did the collaboration come about?

This was a very long time ago and to be honest there's very little to tell. Although I've never known him that well and I haven't seen him for ages I've always liked Bob - for me he's a terrific journalist. Basically he approached Michael and I to help him out with some demos. He got to know us after the first Field Mice single (Emma's House EP). The main thing we did was introducing him to Ian Catt. Our actual involvement was incredibly slight. Although we did.actually copy down the lyrics to Only Love Can Break Your Heart from my copy of After The Goldrush!

Sarah 100's sleevenotes commented on your fame in Japan. Does this still hold true?

Erm ... I don't think we were ever anywhere near famous. We did get to go to Tokyo though which was obviously a fantastic thing - I'd,love to go back. Lips That Taste Like Tears and Wlzere'd You Learn To Kiss That Way? have both been issued in Japan on Cloner Records but I don't really know how they've been received. I know I'm not famous there though!

In the last Shinkansen newsletter, Matt painfully hinted that you should play some more gigs. Has his badgering paid off?

To be fair to Matt he hasn't been badgering me. Michael and I do intend to play live in the autumn but we really want to get a band together and how this is going to happen I'm not sure. We need a drummer, a female vocalist and maybe another guitarist - so if there is anyone out there.... get in touch with Shinkansen. I've promised Matt we will promote the album live and you can't break promises!

What was the last single that you bought?

Living City Plan by Miss Mend.

I've always related to the honesty within your lyrics. Would you describe yourself as romantic?

Yes I would, I do see romance in everything and I'm happy that I do. I'm not sure I live in the real world though. I know people who think I definitely don't!

Do you have a motto in life?

"Unrequited love - it's fantastic. It never has to change. It never has to grow up and it never has to die". Not sure it's a motto, it's certainly stolen from Queer As Folk - I find it comforting!!!