Apparently about a review but, again, lyrically mischievous and mysterious. Once the strangled singing stops, the heavily reverbed guitar just keeps going. And going. Then abruptly stops and starts again unaccompanied. Will it ever end? Well, yes, but, phew, that's a long wait. Sounds like a kid practising in his bedroom and could probably have been cut but who else would have the nerve to leave that in?

 

 

 

 

posted @ 09.00 AM, Sept 21, 2017

Tremendous rockabilly shuffle. Bouncing bass and trebly guitar shapes combine with Adam & The Ants type drumming. The 'ba-ooh's are hilarious though. Also, the 'checker checker's are very Brix like. Nice obscure 'property r a a a' ending.

 

 

 

 

 

posted @ 09.40 AM, Sept 20, 2017

As close to a pop song as this period Fall gets. Just when you think he's going to 'sing' the chorus, you're thrown off kilter when the vocal melody doesn't go where you think it's going to go. The jolly keyboard whistling type thing lasts a few glorious seconds before everything gets manic again. Ba ba ba bip ending.

 

 

 

 

 

posted @ 09.05 AM, Sept 19, 2017

What a title! Fuck knows what he's really saying. Like The Stooges having a breakdown.

 

 

 

 

 

posted @ 11.20 AM, Sept 18, 2017

Pa pa pa pa pa pa. Love this intro and swinging sixties feel before it breaks out into the more standard Fall rock riff formula. Again with the album self-referencing, this time New Facts Emerge. The pure energy on display is spine tingling.

 

 

 

 

 

posted @ 11.05 AM, Sept 17, 2017

This is where the album really lifts off into another stratosphere. Amid Edgar Allan Poe references, the psychedelia shifts gear, eerily slows down and manic laughter emerges. Even some seven dwarves 'hi ho' ing going on. Nightmarish stuff. There's instrumental experimentation bursting out all over. Tempo changes emphasise the trippiness. Monks chanting and gargoyles. Spooky piano heralds another time and atmosphere change. Gene Kelly's in there too. And twangy guitar and chuck chucks.

 

 

 

 

posted @ 13.00 PM, Sept 16, 2017

'Better stop shaking down those frogs!' Superior riffage at work. An A1 thumper with MES on top monstrous vocals. The gargling and screeching reaching mind wobbling heights. Maldoror on the Fall online forum notes that Jacques Brel's 'Les Bourgeois' is quoted herein, the English translation being, 'The bourgoisie are like pigs. The older they get, the more they become cunts.' Cheeky wee frog/French correlation then.

 

 

 

 

posted @ 17.05 PM, Sept 15, 2017

Recorded well before the Manchester Arena tragedy, MES was asked by the record company if he wanted to change the title. He said no. It's more about his disgruntlement with the architecture. Bouncing drum beat and a splendid long 'aaaaargh!' and 'I crave drama.' Then, ala Twin Peaks, it all goes backwards before seamlessly seguing into New Facts...

 

 

 

 

posted @ 11.10 AM, Sept 14, 2017

Fall go funky! Sort of. If you like your funk with horror interludes and growling. Any connection to Dr Feelgood's Lee Brilleaux are pure conjecture. Love the guitar chops on this. No settled groove though, of course. Then the fast bit comes roaring in. Thrilling. Fair steams along. Once again the next track is foretold. A lot of self - referencing on this album.

 

 

 

 

posted @ 10.25 AM, Sept 13, 2017

Riff heavy Fall sound. The riff itself resembles Rocket From The Crypt's 'On A Rope.' It's obvious he likes the phrase 'fol de rol' eh? Some top drawer snarling and hissing at play here with echo aplenty on the vocal. The off key part with mock ghostly moans and weird out of tune piano gives relief before thumping back in with the main riff again. Belter.

 

 

 

 

posted @ 09.25 AM, Sept 12, 2017

Starting an album with the throwaway 'drunk guy battering bottles with a stick' track is the kind of audacious move only The Fall would make. Here MES slurs something about fol de rol whilst said bottles ping away in accompaniment. It ingeniously segues into Fol de Rol itself.

 

 

 

 

posted @ 10.45 AM, Sept 11, 2017