The Fall’s 29th studio album, in 35 years, finds Mark E Smith fronting a kind of amphetamine drone rock band. The 2011 model grooves on two or three chord riffs, pounding bass booms, and Eleni Poulou’s retro keyboard blips, like some ancient krautrock legend, but pin-eyed with punk intensity, spattered with Smith’s kaleidoscopic shards of dog-growled observations, and serrated throughout by Pete Greenway’s stuttering guitar skree.
And when Poulou takes the mic to intone Nico-style over the bittersweet Happi Song, it’s one of The Fall’s most successful changes of mood.
Dear me.
Now all other rock music suddenly seems rather silly. The Fall remain our most vital group.
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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John Robins, Comedian
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Stokeylitfest, Twitter
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Hiewy, Youtube
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Z-factor, Twitter.
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Funday’schild, youtube.
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Bosco239, youtube
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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World Without End, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Jamespearse, Twitter
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Idrie, Youtube
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Brighton Argus
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Stuart, Chortle
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Kozzy06, Youtube
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GRTak, finalgear.com
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter