Our paths have crossed on many an occasion. I have seen his disgruntled and belligerent face staring out at me from magazines. I have read stories of his prolific work rate, the onstage punch ups, the false teeth, singing ‘ah’ at the end of every line and the myriad band sackings. Then there’s the late night record playing sessions, glowing from cheap lager and cheap drugs, half forgotten snippets of manc ranting and raw bass lines. I’ve made promises to myself that I was going to finally dive into that intimidating back catalogue and unearth the gems. At one point I even had a C90 tape of a friends review of their back catalogue with no track listing and volume levels that veered from barely audible to ear splittingly loud. It got lost somewhere along the way and I never found the opportunity to replace it, there was always something else to buy, the latest band or another classic now collecting dust on my shelves.
Up until now. Sure, there have been compilations before but bearing in mind the amount of record labels The Fall had released music through there was no definitive collection. As for the back catalogue, even the summarised discography included with this CD lists nearly 80 albums (including live recordings and compilations), where do you start? Problem solved, you start right here. A mammoth 39 track, double CD containing the pick of the entire Fall back catalogue regardless of record label. And it’s endorsed by Mark E Smith himself, so if it’s good enough for the cantankerous old git, it’s good enough for you.
Running in near chronological order starting with first single ‘Repitition’ and spanning their whole career up to last year's ‘Green Eyed Loco Man’ it’s an incredible record of a 25 year journey that see’s a band (or maybe that should read one man plus other notable guest appearances) constantly move forward almost regardless of the whims and judgements of fashion. For sheer bloody mindedness there is no one to match Mark E Smith.
The earlier material still sounds raw and uncompromising. In 1978 it must have sounded revolutionary. Punk was about to burn out and those that survived the fall out were either welcomed into the mainstream in a diluted form or were beginning to look to other musical forms to vent their anger. Post punk was around the corner with it’s art college stylings and move towards the dance floor. Songs such as ‘Repetition’, ‘Rowche Rumble’, ‘How I Wrote Elastic Man’, 'Totally Wired’ and ‘New Face in Hell’ are stripped down, gritty snippets of life from the dole culture, ranted over by a man straight from the docks. Stick your middle class slumming up your arse, this is the sound of those that were living it because they had no choices. It is difficult now to remember how different the world was back in the late 70’s and early 80’s at the dawn of Thatcherism. The world was about to change, the world needed to change but as we now know the cost to the working classes in Britain was huge. This is the sound of anger.
Having said that it hasn’t all stood the test of time. Yes it’s fascinating, a snap shot of a different time and decidedly lo-fi in execution. That does not always mean the records themselves sound relevant today. ‘Rouche Rumble’ for example is all tinny drums and creaking organ and sounds like it was recorded in a bucket. ‘New Face in Hell’ seems to have kazoo solo for fuck's sake. But there is some great stuff in there. ‘How I wrote Elastic Man’ lays down the blue print for much of what follows with it’s stomp along rhythm section, jangly guitar lines and acerbic ranting. ‘Fiery Jack’ draws heavily on rockabilly and sounds fantastic to this day.
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The compilation really takes off however when you reach track 12 of the first CD, ‘The Man whose Head Expanded’. Elastica have heard this track that’s for sure, listen to the tinkling keyboards and the bass right up in the mix and in your face. Or ‘C.R.E.E.P.’ which has a way with a tune without losing it’s edge, all harmonised vocals counterpointing a more restrained vocal from Smith, it is reminiscent of the Stranglers at their best.
It is the second CD though that is welded to my CD player. Kicking off with ‘US 80’s – 90’s’ a new electronic element is brought to the fore and the band seem to find a new lease of life. The records on the second CD could have been made yesterday and would still sound cutting edge. Two cover versions sum up this new found confidence. ‘Mr Pharmacist’ from 1986 is a cover of Texan garage heroes' The Other Half's song that kicks down the door, ransacks your house and pisses off with all your cash, all in under two minutes. Then there’s their sublime cover of The Kinks’s ‘Victoria’ which is arguably better than the original.
It is almost impossible to pick highlights from the rest as it is consistently brilliant throughout. ‘Living too Late’, ‘Hey Luciani’, ‘Hit the North’, ‘Telephone Thing’, the list goes on and on. 21 tracks and not a duff song on there. The move towards the dance floor caught me by surprise but the electronic beats just add a new dimension to The Fall and it is a very welcome addition. ‘M5’ for example is the best song the Happy Mondays never made. ‘Touch Senstive’ you will recognise from a car advert (how times change eh?). Leaving ‘Green Eyed Loco Man’ from 2003 to bring us up to date, which it does with style whilst hinting that this story isn’t finished yet.
Incredible and incendiary stuff. Mark E Smith won’t thank me for this but the Fall are one of Britains great institutions and should be held up as such. This compilation is essential for anyone who has ever been curious about the Fall and for long term fans alike. Having finally caught up with them I have a deep sense of having missed out for years, the work behind the headlines, the records that justify Mark E Smith's right to be a miserable old sod are glorious songs that deserve to be heard. Long live The Fall(ah).
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