33 1/3 Part 14
The Fall -’This Nation’s Saving Grace (Beggars Banquet, 1985)
The Fall are a band I first saw in 1987 on long-forgotten ITV show The Roxy, performing ‘Hit the North.’ . It wasn’t a road to damascus type moment, but i thought they sounded pretty cool. Throughout the next twenty years I slowly fell ever more for them, eventually actually managing to see them live in late 2008. I’ve lost count of how many of their albums I have, and whenever I think I’ve got somewhere, there’a whole load more.
The Fall seem to be a band that you either get or you don’t (Matthew at Song, By Toad and the good Mrs. 17 Seconds, two people whose opinions I respect very deeply cannot stand them). And we know whose favourite group they were. But there’s something oddly addictive about The Fall, a world that drags you in; word that seemingly make no sense whatsoever, and lots of sense, often at the same time.
There are many great Fall albums I could have singled out - but I’m going with this one. A present on my 18th birthday from my friend Paul (cheers!), this just hangs together so well as an album. It’s where the poppiness that started to creep in once Brix Smith joined and they signed to Beggars Banquet (whatever Mark E. Smith might say) join together perfectly. It starts off with ‘Mansion’ - a wonderfully gothic track (the Fall were never considered a goth band per se, and yet…). Some of the tracks on here aren’t just ‘alternative dancefloor fillers’ -ha! - damn it, they’re anthems.
Thanks to this album, I started to investigate The Fall albums in ever greater detail, started to understand music that wasn’t just off the beaten track but off kilter, and the reward that that’s continued to bring. Paul told me ‘Spoilt Victorian Child’ was his favourite track on the album, and I think it’s still one of my favourite tracks to this very day. Mad situationist rockabilly, and all the better for it. To my shame I don’t think I even knew who Damo Suzuki was when I got this. Oh well, I know now…
If you want to start with a Fall album that showcases them at their very best and isn’t too inaccesible, start here. Then just keep going…and going…but you’ll always find yourselves coming back here.
I’ve tried to love the fall, I really have, but a few songs aside I justdon’t get it. I don’t hate them, I’ve just come to terms with the fact that they aren’t for me.
*sigh* I can’t even convince you…anyone??
Every studio album is essential. I once heard someone only half joking say of the Peel Sessions boxset that it rendered all other music superfluous. Although I believe that to be a bit extreme I do believe that life is enriched by listening to The Fall and TNSG is not a bad entry although I would probably suggest PBL.
Roll on the 13th and 14th Nov at the Ferry.
I love the fall… i think they are great. sometimes Mark E.Smith annoys me and i feel like i have to think he is amazing cause everyone tells me i should. But at times i do honestly think he is - i also think he looks rough as fuck.
SW
Exactly, Jim!!
Typically magnificent post, Ed.
Can I give you some advice, Jim? Get someone to choose about 10 or 20 of their favourite Fall songs for you and lock yourself into a room for a week listening to them incessantly. You will experience a moment of clarity when it all becomes clear and you will never look back.
I still keep trying, and these two tracks are possibly getting there. Loved “Sparta F uh C” which you posted a while back.
I saw the Fall provide the music for ballet in the Festival a few years back (OK probably 10 or more years ago) for Michael Clark, bare bums an’ all. Didn’t really do it for me. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_Kurious_Oranj)
The Fall are name checked by so many people, I feel I have to keep trying!
Wow…some varied opinions there. A good compilation to start with is 458489. very envious of you having seen I Am Kurious Oranj, Ken!
To make things worse I generally quite like it when Mark E. Smith makes appearances on other people’s songs - and the time he did the classified football results was genius - it’s just the Fall i can’t be bothered with!
Gotta keep up with the culcha, you know?
There have been some great MES collaborations -the ‘I Want you’ single with the Inspiral carpets, and the album credited to Von Sudenfed which was him and Mouse On Mars.
There must be footage of that Fall ballet, it took place about a block away from 17 Seconds Towers…
Yeah i’ve tried looking for a film of the play but no luck and was surprised to hear that it happened here in Edinburgh. I hear he lived on rose street once?
SW
According to his autobiography he stayed around Leith, though it doesn’t specify where exactly…
I like The Fall, but it took me a long time to really appreciate them. I still think about 25-30% of their stuff is shit, but that still leaves a lot of great songs to appreciate. The 50,000 Fall Fans Can’t Be Wrong compilation is a n ideal start….
Actually, for a really good overview of their entire career (well, the first twenty-five years,. and more than one record label) that might well be the place to start, actually.
You might also enjoy…
http://fadesinslowly.com/2007/04/17/lay-of-the-land-on-old-grey-whistle-test/
Hit the North was my re-entry point into the Fall. I’d been given a couple of their early albums, but never really got into them, then I heard HTN over the sound system before an early Happy Mondays gig (James were headling) and then it all clicked together.
Ken should feel lucky, I was dragged to see Michael Clarke by a then girlfriend, and the backing band was Laibach, my ears took weeks to recover.
I can imagine that would have been a pounding and a half!