Stalwart Mark E. Smith’s seminal intensely influential Manchester band from 1976 lays some of their finest stuff ever on us. Smith never went away, has continued to produce all these years with various people becoming The Fall. This band is simple guitar/bass/drums with that distinctive organ/key playing, weird twangy guitar, irreverent everything but tons of hooks and irrepressible rockin beats that I dare you not tap your toes if not shake your butt to. Notable is the use of “found sound”, low fi live recordings, noise and distortion, which takes this to a whole new level. His are the only vocals, besides the woman on keys contributing contrasting backups. As for Smith’s inimitable voice, in a line from one of their early songs from the late 70’s, “I don’t sing, I just shout”. If you aren’t familiar with The Fall this is as good a place to start as any really (but definitely check their late 70’s material). Surprising that we have any Fall at all in the library as there was a time when it was rare and people probably fought each other to steal it. This is truly great, all tracks. And to think that in 1985 I thought their best stuff was behind them (wrong again, bill!!).

1) upbeat drums to start with words, synth and bass and guitar all join the fray in due time, epic Fall, title track
2) first 90 seconds or so are a low-fi live recording of the track then the studio version begins, good head nodding rockin stuff with cool organ
3) heavy head nodding beat with heavy distorto synth more of a swinging smarmy heavy rock with pretty and spacey keys contrasting
4) sick western flare to this for sure, with a long noisey out’tro
5) distorto bass, bit of a spy/surf riff over a tribal rockin beat
6) reprise of title track, swinging upbeat rock with heavy bass taking lead for first couple minutes then launches into a galloping 2/4 intense rocker, with ~1min left found sound/noise collage
7) a sultry dark sexy feel to this, nice twang guitar and sick synth noises permeating
8) fun, almost dancey beat and guitar hook
9) this sounds like they are trying to be “normal” but hilariously fail, demented pop/rock ballad that halfway through implodes into this very noisey pulsing synth thing, just as fucked up as it gets (Brick Alert!!)