And so the new Real Fall continues apace. And this week was a real mix of odds and sods with some gems tucked away in their midst.
Walk Like A Man is live and Mark is drunk. It stays pretty good though. And on the flip side of Sparta is a cracking live version of My Ex Classmates Kids - proper pub boozer rock magic.
And then Interim: "Rehearsals and Live", so a mix of things. Clasp Hands is a live song - all angular jangles and Mark can barely speak. Blindness is that lovely Fall creeping madness - all brooding and fear. And onwards - the band sounds better than ever to be honest, no fear and just leaning into the music. Then a live? version of Wrong Place which sounds as cracking as ever.
And then a real treat: A Rehearsal? Live? version of Sparta (#3 natch), the music is restrained, it's just Mark and Elena - she hardly knows the words and he's bizarrely coherent. There's a blend of their approaches which turns into magic - her delivery is read, mildly Germanic. Mark kicks it off: "I am Mark E Smith...We start tonight with theme from Sparta FC, A film yet to be made, by the great director, Iralothep, You're True God". It's followed up by a live version of Pseud Mag Ed., sounding more frantic and urgent than it did in the 80s - it's even more amazing that Mark remembers the words. And then Spoilt Victorian Child, and another one sounding as fresh as ever. The album with Boxtosis - and following the previous, this is another really great and essential LP. I feel weird about the Fall right now - they're a good band again - fun and interesting.
And then the last Peel Session, as documented on the BBC4 doc. Clasp hands sounds great, with a breakdown that harks back to Elves - Mark's really mining the past now. The production is tight and the next two songs: Blindness, and What About Us are really good - the band chugging along as they can. Wrong Place sounds great and then a bonkers cover of I Can Hear The Grass Grow.
There's a bonus track on the Peel Session box called Job Search. Sounds like Jane, is low fi.
This is the Fall circa 2004, I couldn't be happier.
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