Trembling Blue Stars
Broken by Whispers
[Sub Pop]
Rating: 6.4
He may tremble and be perpetually blue, but Robert Wratten is certainly no
star. He does hold a venerable position in the pantheon of twee-pop, having
fronted the Field Mice, the late-'80s missing link between the Smiths and Belle
& Sebastian. But as always seems the case with these sensitive fey-pop types,
Wratten's never quite gotten over the girl, and his music remains as resolutely
precious now as ever. This is both good and bad news. For devotees to the
softly sung, broken heart aesthetic, Wratten's mournful nuggets from the old-
school of twee are just what the doctor ordered. For those whom the twee phase
has come and gone, Wratten's pleasant work merely betrays a stylistic cul-de-sac.
In either case, Wratten's mastery of the form and elder statesman status merit
acknowledgment. The man can write a catchy tune, and what's more, his work
with the Trembling Blue Stars evinces a greater appreciation and grasp of
texture. Working closely with producer Ian Catt, noteworthy for his work with
St. Etienne, Broken by Whispers shimmers and glitters, alternating from
hushed ambience to ringing guitar and synth interplay.
Opening with lingering bird chirps and a softly picked acoustic guitar, "Ripples"
soon erupts into emotively detached guitar pop reminiscent of '80s balladeering.
Wratten intones: "I want to write songs about/ Two strangers starting out."
Things get pastoral on "She Just Couldn't Stay," with soft percussive effects and
strings accompanying a smart melody and a chorus that laments, "The person you
were/ I know you're not her." Curses upon the cruel woman that broke Wratten's
sensitive soul, for confining his wretched lyrical muse. "Sometimes I Still Feel
the Bruise" is a touching slice of new wave synth-pop, and on "To Leave It Now,"
Wratten enlists a French chanteuse to realize his passive mixture of melancholy
and melody.
The songs on Broken by Whispers are resolutely catchy, simply bogged down
by tried-and-true heart-on-the-sleeve sentiment. It's too late in the game to
entertain the notion that Wratten might venture off his beaten path. But for
folks smitten with heartbreak, it's just as well.
-S. Murray