Martin Bramah has an impressive history which began back in the mid-70s when he was a founding member of cult legends The Fall. He stayed with the band for the duration of that decade before departing (as is the done thing with The fall) to front his own band, Blue Orchids, themselves an influential group with an ever evolving line-up, much like his former band. Bramah's latest project is Factory Star which he formed in late 2008, and, true to form, there have been several departures and additions along the way, including other cast-offs from The Fall (which isn't surprising, most people have been members of Mark E. Smith's mob at some point). With a debut album released in 2011, the latest incarnation of the band have put out a new mini-album titled 'New Sacral' from which 'Olympian' is taken.
Has Martin Bramah mellowed with age? Has he heck. This bass-heavy lump of post-punk is made of snapping, snarled vocals, an insistent, driving rhythm section and lashings of organ. It's urgent, cutting and possibly a cynical stab at cashing in on a certain major sporting event. Of course something this good would never be picked up by the BBC for backing music to their highlights show, but this is a far better example of what muscle British music still has than whatever Elbow or Muse managed to muster. 'Olympian' sounds like the bastard offspring of Echo & The Bunnymen and The Fall collaborating with The Small Faces' Ian McLagan, which you'll probably agree sounds like a great combination. There's plenty of life in the old dog yet.
Factory Star's website
Buy the album
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