It's a bloody winner though - top notch throughout from the start to the finish. Some of this was previewed last week but for once the album versions are better than the sessions. So there's Green Eyed / Mountain and the Real New Form are flowing. Mark's on form, and the band are on form and they're both gelling together in a wonderful way. I think I spent a lot of time waiting for the old Fall to come back and this ain't it - it is the new Fall. There's a whole new sound here, but the connection between the band and Mark is back and stronger than ever. This could be one of my favourite Fall LPs of all time.
Sparta is as good as the session - a bit of lightness of touch, and they're all back singing together. Again, no idea what's going on lyrically but it's a top drawer track. And Contraflow follows it - one of their best songs in a long side. I hate the Country Folk so much. There's a bit of weirdness, and a bit of jangly folk type stuff. Boxtoctosis is back on the rockabilly/indie blend they're ploughing and it's good - OPEN THE BOX! OPEN THE GOD DAMN BOX!. It keeps the pace up, before dipping into something like Pinball Machine territory with Houston. Then my favourite: Portugal. No idea again but the music has oomph and it seems to be the band reciting a letter sent to Mark maybe - basically a lengthy complaint. When the narrator says "They were swearing, throwing newspaper with Snotballs" The band reply "SNOTBALLS!", in a mocking way. Fantastic.
The Protein Christmas single is a continuation of this with a bit of harder edge. Then there's a few bonus tracks from the Fall Box Set and this week is over. It's so good to have the Real New Fall back again - winning winners throughout.
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