The Fall band talk ‘Grotesque’! : the John Robb interview
INTERVIEW BELOW…
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The former members of The Fall have taken control of their back catalogue with a novel rerelease schedule that recreates classic albums with live versions of tracks. They talk to John Robb about this and how they wrote the songs in the first place, dealing with the legacy and working with Mark E Smith.
Grotesque was where the Fall really started to elevate, taking their sound from the enthralling monochromatic of early releases to an ‘electric folk’ twisted day-go landscape that was a snapshot of a long-lost Manchester. The songs somehow combine gritty new soundscapes with a warped new post punk pop. The band seethe and rattle whilst Smith’s lyrics and stories are enthralling – his word flow and his voice are tools for painting warped pictures and a chemically stained vision with horror and humour around every corner.
For decades, Mark E Smith’s vision has been celebrated, but behind him, there was a great band from the Hanley brother’s unique Fall groove rhythm section, Marc Riley’s knack for catchy riffola and off-kilter guitar lines and the same with fellow guitarist Craig Scanlon. The twin spotlight of these releases is on the late singer and also on the band and there is much to celebrate from the golden period of the much loved band.
Bella Union are delighted to announce the release of The Fall’s ‘Grotesque (After The Gramme) Live!’ – the latest release from POPSTOCK records, which builds on the success of the critically acclaimed ‘Slates Live!’. Sourced, mastered and designed by the musicians who played on the original LP, and with insightful liner notes by Henry Rollins, ‘Grotesque Live’ presents fascinating versions of all the seminal 1980 album tracks. Available on limited edition vinyl, CD and cassette on 25th October.
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