Martin Bramah
Martin Bramah is a singer songwriter and guitarist from Manchester. He co-founded The Fall with Mark E. Smith and co-wrote songs for the albums, Live At The Witch Trails and Extricate. His brilliant band the Blue Orchids have released many great records. In his book, Rip It Up, Simon Reynolds wrote that the Blue Orchids were “visionary ... ramshackle but transcendent.” And the NME's Barney Hoskyns once observed, “There is an economy of love and yearning in every chord, vocal or instrumental that breaks from the aching heart of the Blue Orchids' sound”. Harry Pye was delighted when Martin agreed to answer a few questions for Le Document...
Harry Pye (HP) I really love your song A Good Day To Live — can you tell me how the song came about — was it easy to write and fun to record?
Martin Bramah (MB) I was asked to write some music for the soundtrack of the movie The Whiskey Robber a bio-pic about the life and crimes of Attila Ambrus, a bank robber in 1990s Budapest. I wrote three songs Iron Tree, Whisky Burn and Good Day To Live — they weren’t used in the film but made it onto my The Once And Future Thing album. Yes it was easy to write — I went for a long walk up in the North Pennines and by the time I got home the whole song was pounding in my head, fully formed. I had to get it down quick. We had a lot of fun making that album.
HP My introduction to the Blue Orchids was hearing Roddy Frame’s cover of Bad Education in 1987. Is Bad Education a song you’re proud of? Did you like Roddy’s version? Did it earn you much money?
MB It’s a good song and it still sounds fresh. Roddy covered it in his own inimitable way. I was blown away when I heard his version. He’s a great talent. It should have been the ‘A’ side though. I don’t discuss money in public.
HP John Paul Moran (who plays keyboards with The Monochrome Set) as well as the Blue Orchids, has a great stage presence. What’s he like to work with? Does he sometimes make you feel a bit under dressed?
MB He’s a pleasure to work with and one of nature’s gentle things. John Paul is the longest serving member of Blue Orchids (apart from me, obvs). His slight frame belies his massive mystical presence. If by underdressed you mean do I lack a sequined cape or satin briefs, then yes. He adds a mountain of colour to all his endeavours.
HP Which current bands to you rate? If you were asked to curate a Meltdown Festival and given a big budget to pay for three nights of live music at the Southbank — who would you try and get?
MB Alter Moderns, Blowers, Anna Calvi, The Growlers, Crystal Stilts, Black Marble, Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds, Jolie Holland, Hipster Brothel NQ, The Molochs, Thee Oh Sees, Amyl & The Sniffers, New Bums, Nina Conti & Monkey, Taylor Swift, Die Antwoord, Bingo Harry, Crocodiles, Count Arthur Strong, Bubble Tea & Cigarettes, Electric Wizard, Girlboss, Snowgoose, Charlie Chuck, Loose Articles, The Lovely Eggs, The Nightingales, Imperial Wax. That’s enough, surely? I even got three comperes in there too — one for each night!
HP A few years back I met a guy called Dave Tucker who told me he’d played on The Fall album SLATES. I told him that in 1996 I’d written to Mark E. Smith asking if he’d answer some questions for my fanzine and that Mark filled in the questionnaire and wrote a really nice note wishing me luck etc. Dave was visibly shocked and said, “You must have caught him on a really, really good day” Was the Mark you knew a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde character? Or was he someone who’d be nice to fans, taxi drivers, hotel staff etc but rude to music journalists?
MB Mark could turn on the charm when it suited him and also be quite rude when required. He was mostly nice to journalists in my experience, unless they needed putting in their place — and he could be a bastard to hotel and bar staff and the odd cabbie too, if the mood took him.
HP You co-wrote the opening and closing tracks on my favourite Fall album, Extricate. Do you listen to Extricate more than Live At The Witch Trials? The then NME journalist James Brown gave Extricate a 10 out 10 review. Do you think either record is brilliant from start to finish?
MB Two very different records. Both have moments of brilliance and are pretty solid pieces of work throughout. I don't know which one I’ve listened to the most over the years — I don’t listen to either very often. I’m proud to have played a part in both albums though.
HP What will the Blue Orchids be doing once Lock Down comes to an end? Will you be touring? Have you got ideas for new songs?
MB We have live dates coming up in July, August and September this year — plus a mini tour with The Nightingales in November. I’ve also just finished writing 10 songs for a new album, which the band will begin working on as soon as we’re able.
HP Are you interested in politics? Have you ever been a member of a political party? Are there any politicians (past or present) that have a place in your heart?
MB Yes, politics can be quite entertaining, as can having your pocket picked if you’re interested in slight of hand. I once petitioned Parliament to have banging your head against the wall included in the London Olympics. It's still being debated. No, I’ve never joined a political party. Francis Bacon is my favourite politician (not the bloody painter).
HP Are there any musical heroes you’d like to meet or collaborate with?
MB I had the chance to meet David Bowie once, but I managed to swerve it at the last minute. Paul McCartney could do with some help with his lyrics, so that might be interesting. I’d like to meet Bob Dylan.
HP What funny films or comedians make you laugh?
MB The Lavender Hill Mob is a good movie. The entire cast of Granada TVs The Dustbinmen were hilarious. Of the current crop, Yumi Nagashima is very funny, and you’ve got to laugh at Titania McGrath.
HP Where would you like be 10 years from now and what would you like to be doing?
MB I’d like to have built a modest palace at the bottom of Loch Morar, and have become the secret king of all the British Isles. That should keep me busy and out of trouble.
HP Are there any records you’d like played at your funeral?
MB If I’m ever compelled to shuffle off this mortal, I’d keep the service brief and have them play Peace I Leave With You by Knut Nystedt.
HP If you went on Mastermind what would your specialist subject be?
MB I’d choose a book as my specialist subject Beelzebub’s Tales To His Grandson by George Ivanovich Gurdjieff
You can hear Speed The Day here.
