"I do think that you have to be able to justify making a fourth album, you can't just keep doing the same thing."

AN INTERVIEW WITH BOBBY WRATTEN
October 2000

Q: Which Abba song was it on the jukebox immortalized on the classic debut Trembling Blue Stars single?

Bobby: The song I was thinking of was 'That's Me' from the Arrival album. It was also the b-side of 'Dancing Queen' which accounts for it being on a jukebox. We did play 'Dancing Queen' as well, but I was definitely thinking of 'That's Me'.

Q: Do you feel nostalgic for the Field Mice days? Are there any things you regret?

Bobby: To be honest I'm not nostalgic at all for the Field Mice days. In fact, before we did the compilation ["Where'd You Learn To Kiss That Way", a 2-cd anthology featuring almost all Field Mice songs appeared on Shinkansen in 1998], I tried not to think about those days at all. Since the compilation my feelings have softened though. There was a lot of friction inthe band and I was very relieved when we split up - I certainly wouldn't want to go back. I'm not sure I would do anything different though - the whole thing was very much a learning process. We started knowing nothing and grew up on record. I'm also glad that the band just ended. I like the way it has a definite lifespan and didn't just drag on. We certainly made mistakes and we made a lot of records in a very short space of time, so they're not all going to be good - but you just make a mistake, hopefully learn from it and go on. It was never a band that was going to last any length of time. It's just amazing we stayed together as long as we did!

Q: Which are your very favourite songs among the ones you've written?

Bobby: A few of my favourites are 'Signs', 'What Can I Say To Change Your Heart?', 'Made For Each Other' and 'Insecure'. Also, although it's not really a "song", I'm very fond of 'Untitled #3'. There are also tracks like 'Ripples', 'Back To You' and 'Sleep' that are probably three of the best realised things I've done.

Q: How would you compare Trembling Blue Stars to Field Mice? How would you explain that Trambling Blue Stars have yet to be as popular as Field Mice were?

Bobby: I know people always say their most recent stuff is the best but I genuinely feel that Trembling Blue Stars are miles better than the Field Mice. I don't dislike the Field Mice at all but I see a lot of it as very much being junevilia. Therefore, if it were on merit alone, I think TBS should be more popular. But it's not as simple as that. Other factors such as nostalgia come into play and people are quite happy to like your early stuff but not follow you. I don't really mind. I understand why the Field Mice albums sold more. I just don't think the music is as good.

Q: How came and you chose "She Just Couldn't Stay" as a single off "Broken By Whispers"? "To Leave It Now" or "Ripples" seemed the obvious choices...

Bobby: When I sent Matt the demos we kind of agreed on "She Just Couldn't Stay" being a single and it just stuck. I pushed somewhat for "To Leave It Now" being a single but that never happened. The "She Just Couldn't Stay" EP was planned well in advance of its release and by the time it came out I was a little uncertain about taking a second single from the album. Choosing singles is always tricky; there's always the chance that you're going to overlook a really obvious single. I actually don't like including singles on albums and I'm determined not to do so again in the future. I'd like to release a stand alone single either side of the next album. As for "Ripples", because of its length and nature it was never considered as a single. However, going for something left of centre can work. It just never occured to us.

Q: How does it feel to be on Sub Pop in the US?

Bobby: Although it doesn't really have any bearing on the day to day life of the band it still feels pretty good to be on Sub Pop. They've released many records that I like a lot and it's certainly raised the profile of Trembling Blue Stars in the USA in terms of reviews and airplay. It's kind of odd though, because being in the UK, I feel quite divorced from it. Maybe if we eventually get to tour the USA it'll be more apparent that things are happening. I was just very happy that someone at the label liked us enough to want to put our record out.

Q: Your second album was different from "Her Handwriting" and "Broken By Whispers", incorporating a lot of electronic stuff, what was the idea behind it? What can we expect on the next album?

Bobby: I tend to react against the last album when I make a new one, so "Lips That Taste Of Tears" was more electronic and "Broken By Whispers" moved away from that. With the new record I think I will embrace electronics again on same level, mainly because it's an area of music of which I'm a big fan. The trouble is now people will think you're just copying Radiohead! Whereas I was ripping off the Aphex Twin years ago!!! Actually I'm a big fan of "Kid A" and I think it's a very inspiring record. I'd like the next record to be some sort of fresh start and I do think electronics will be involved. I do think that you have to be able to justify making a fourth album, you can't just keep doing the same thing. I always feel I'm trying new things but to the outsider it's not always obvious.

Q: What's your message to people who've been listening to your music all these years?

Bobby: I'm never very good at answering this kind of question, sorry! All I can say is "thank you" to anyone who's listened. I never take it for granted that people I don't know go out and buy one of my records - it's such a nice thing to do!

This interview was conducted a few months after the "Broken By Whispers" album, which was the band's first record for Sub Pop in the US.