Blue Orchids have just released their latest album, The Once And Future Thing, which shows Martin Bramah's songwriting to be as strong and diverse as ever, from the powerful opener "Good Day to Live" to the delicate and sensitive "Rosy Hours" and the twisted English city blues of "Motorway." Backing Bramah live is a new band comprising Chris Connolly on drums (Glitter Band, Jah Wobble), John Paul Moran (Monochrome Set) on keyboards and Vince Hunt (A Witness) on bass. They'll be performing a set filled with classics from the group's entire catalog. These dates mark a long-overdue return to the stage for Bramah and his mesmerising, shamanic performances.
The Once And Future Thing confirm Bramah's status as one of the Britain's most inventive and original guitarists and a superbly measured, thoughtful lyricist. Perhaps that's why Blue Orchids were chosen by Nico (Velvet Underground) to back her for several years; why his songs were covered by Aztec Camera, Sonic Youth, Dustdevils, Camper Van Beethoven, Crystal Stilts, Slovenly and many more; why he's been acclaimed by successive generations of musicians and writers for "making music which is introspective yet exhilarating, sad but stirring".
