This came out in 2000 — or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Unless you’re a devotee of obscure British indie-pop acts and their family trees, you probably don’t know much about Field Mice or National Picture Library, two sweetly splendid bands Trembling Blue Stars leaders Bob Wratten previously fronted.
No matter. All you really need to enjoy TBS — and their third album Broken By Whispers — is an appreciation for a winsomely melancholy melody, an achingly charming vocal line and well-crafted, intelligent pop masterpieces that run the gamut from folk to lounge and are garnished with graceful, refined orchestral flourishes. If that appeals to you — or if you’re a fan of soundalikes such as Belle & Sebastian or St. Etienne — TBS and Wratten are worth getting to know better.
