New Music From The Fall
More than two decades after first introducing their smart, cynical post-punk sound to the world, and five years since their last recording, The Fall have a new album. The Real New Fall LP — Formerly Known as Country on the Click, which was released in the UK earlier this year, will be released in North America on Narnack on June 15. This version of the album will include several previously unreleased tracks.
In support of the upcoming release, The Fall are currently touring the U.S. They played Detroit's Majestic Theatre on April 23 and Chicago's Double Door on April 25, and now wind down through the Southeast and Southwest, making stops at Dallas, Texas' Tree's on April 30 and Tucson, Ariz.'s Plush on May 5. For the first part of May, they'll head up the West Coast, stopping at San Jose, Calif.'s Blank Club on May 8 and Santa Ana, Calif.'s Galaxy on May 11, wrapping it all up on May 16 at San Diego's Casbah.
The track listing for the North American release, which lead vocalist and chief songwriter Mark E. Smith re-mastered, is as follows: "Green Eyed Locoman," "Mountain Energy," "Sparta," "Contraflow," "Last Commands," "Janet vs. Johnny," "Boxoctosis," an alternative version of "The Past," the previously unreleased "Mad Mock Goth," "Protein Protection," "Mike's Love Hexagon," "Houston," the all new "Portugal Tour" and an alternative version of "Recovery Kit 2."
While the mid-'80s found the band latching onto a more melodic, accessible sound, with The Real New Fall LP… the
group returns to the darker, quirkier and more angular post-punk spewing they
first became known for when they formed in 1976. Led by Smith's familiar Manchester
slur, the new album feels at once old and new. Built around a raw, infectious
rhythm section, burping, off-kilter keyboard and a gloomy vocal style that borders
beat-poet delivery, the lo-fi record feels as if it could've easily been made
in '77, yet manages to avoid feeling redundant. And Smith's eccentric, often
humorous ranting remains relevant.
The Fall have endured innumerable personnel changes over their 28 years and 25 albums; the current lineup has Smith alongside Ben Pritchard on lead guitar, Jim Watts on bass and guitar, Elini Poulou on keyboards and Dave Milner on drums. — Jenny Tatone [Monday, April 26, 2004]
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