10 Classic Fall albums
exTRICATe COG SINISTeR/ PHONOGRAM, 1990
A magnificent album, delightful to hardcore and newcomer alike. Punchy hi-fi production, a rueful ballad (“Bill Is Dead”) a nod to hip-hop (“Telephone Thing”), and every one a winner. 10/10
COde: SeLfISH COG SINISTeR/ PHONOGRAM, 1991
Possibly the last truly great Fall LP, with musical adventure and acute social observation (“Free Range”; “Married. 2 Kids”) in equal measure. Slide guitar, fidgety techno and fine opener “The Birmingham School Of Business School”, too. 9/10
dRAGNeT STeP fORwARd, 1979
A field recording from inside a ghost story. After their comparatively crisp debut, the band’s second record was an experiment in fidelity, a dank and literary post-punk. The likes of “Spectre Vs Rector” offered a cold and frightening trip into the MES universe. 9/10
Hex eNdUCTION HOUR KAMeRA, 1992
Stretching two sides of vinyl to its absolute limit, The Fall’s fourth LP is a chilly, needle-pushing masterpiece: the hypnotic grooves of “The Classical” and the twopart “Winter” are stunning, while “Jawbone & The Air Rifle” might be Smith’s most evocative tale of horror. 9/10
PALACe Of SwORdS, ReveRSed (COMPILATION) (COG SINISTeR,1987)
Strong comp of early singles, inc the extraordinary “Wings”, the B-side of “Kicker Conspiracy”. Some great bits of Slates, (cf “Fit And Working Again”) on here, too. 7/10
BeNd SINISTeR BeGGARS BANQUeT, 1986
The “pop” Fall, as complemented by the melodic talents of Smith’s wife Brix continued an amazing run of form. Atmospheric, tuneful and weird, this felt visionary work, updated for a new audience. 8/10
THIS NATION’S SAvING GRACe BeGGARS BANQUeT, 1985
The band’s second label for Beggars is an extraordinary work. While finding room for oddball pop gems – “Spoilt Victorian Child”; “My New House” – the LP’s strength is in its multilayered longform work: “I Am Damo Suzuki” and “Paintwork”. 10/10
GROTeSQUe ROUGH TRAde, 1980
After the aggressive audio of their previous record, The Fall’s third album felt positively welcoming. With the increasingly melodic playing of Marc Riley, the group straddle longform self-reference (“C’n’C Smithering”; “The NWRA”) and sparky rockabilly. 8/10
fALL HeAdS ROLL SLOGAN, 2005
Smith may have later dubbed this lineup “traitors, liars and cunts” after they abandoned him in the middle of a US tour, but The Fall’s 24th studio album is a metallic, vitalic delight – “Blindness” remains a fan favourite. 7/10
yOUR fUTURe OUR CLUTTeR dOMINO, 2010
Tracked at a Castleford metal studio, The Fall’s first (and only) LP for Domino is probably the finest work by the last iteration of the group. “Bury Pts 1 + 3”, in particular, is a highlight, a hilarious glam stomp through the extremes of fidelity. 7/10 TOM PINNOCK, JOHN ROBINSON