Trembling Blue Stars is a London-based band that currently includes members Robert Wratten and Beth Arzy (who was also in Aberdeen until they split up in 2005). Begun as a side project of Wratten's previous band Northern Picture Library, Trembling Blue Stars became Wratten's main band when Northern Picture Library broke up in 1995. Wratten took the name of his band from The Story of O by Pauline Réage. The Stars are characterized by slow songs with jangly guitars and introspective, painful lyrics. Many of their lyrics deal with Wratten attempts to come to grips with his relationship and subsequent break-up with Annemari Davies, who was in The Field Mice and Northern Picture Library with him. Their first album, Her Handwriting, was released in 1996 to critical acclaim and had a small release on Shinkansen Recordings (the successor of Sarah Records). The album was melancholic and moody as Wratten's lyrics went through the sad and happy moments of his relationship with Annemari. There was never meant to be a real band, just one album as mostly a solo project with some help from Annemari and a few others, but after the success of Her Handwriting, Wrattan put a band together, went touring and began work on a second album. In-fighting led to multiple line up changes, and original member Gemma Townley was replaced by Ian Catt. In 2003, all members were let go by Wratten except for Arzy. Producer Ian Catt has worked on every release. Other previous members include Michael Hiscock, Keris Howard (previously of the Sarah Records-era band Brighter) and Harvey Williams. Annemari Davies remains a frequent guest vocalist. (via Wikipedia)