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.
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Rubyshoes, Twitter
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Foxfoxton, Youtube
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Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
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Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
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Anon, westhamonline.com
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
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Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
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Liam Travitt, Twitter
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John Robins, Comedian
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Fairy Pingu, Twitter
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James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
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12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
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Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
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Stuart, Chortle
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Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
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Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
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Aiden Hearn, Twitter
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Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
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Visualiser1, Twitter
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Gwaites, Digitalspy
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Secretdeveloper, Youtube
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FBC, finalgear.com
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Danazawa, Youtube
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Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
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Peter Ould, Twitter
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DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
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Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
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Microcuts 22, Twitter
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Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Joycey, readytogo.net
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Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
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Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
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Al Murray, Comedian
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Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
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BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Etienne, Chortle.com
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
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Carcrazychica, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
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Keilloh, Twitter
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Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
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Joe, Independent.co.uk
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Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
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Aaron, comedy.co.uk
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Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Sidsings000, Youtube
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Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
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Birmingham Sunday Mercury
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
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Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
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Guest1001, Youtube
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Anamatronix, Youtube
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Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
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Peter Fears, Twitter
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
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Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
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Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Frankie Boyle, Comedian
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Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
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Horatio Melvin, Twitter
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Slothy Matt, Twitter
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Chez, Chortle.com
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Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
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Idrie, Youtube
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Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Dick Socrates, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
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Tres Ryan, Twitter
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Robert Gavin, Twitter
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
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World Without End, Twitter
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Anon, BBC Complaints Log
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
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98rosjon, Twitter
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Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
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Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
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Hiewy, Youtube
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Leach Juice, Twitter
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Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
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Tokyofist, Youtube
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Mrdavisn01, Twitter
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Pudabaya, Twitter
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Jackmumf, Twitter
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Len Firewood, Twitter
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Mini-x2, readytogo.net
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Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
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Mearecate, Youtube
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Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
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Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
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Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Peter Ould, Youtube
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Mpf1947, Youtube
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
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Rudeness, Youtube
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Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
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Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
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Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
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Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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A D Ward, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Sam Rooney, Youtube
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Brighton Argus
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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Shit Crit, Twitter
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Richard Herring, Comedian
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Lents, redandwhitekop.com
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Sweeping Curves, Twitter
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GRTak, finalgear.com