The last and the most prized of the Amble Harbour Boot Fair discoveries is the final Fall studio album, released six months before Mark E Smith's death. And while it's clearly not up there with the glory days of The Mighty Fall, there's still a lot to enjoy.
After a brief Smith acapella ditty of no consequence, we're straight into Fol De Rol, a powerful riff carrying a very growly and unintelligible lyric, and a great start. Brillo De Facto, is perhaps not as appealing, but it has moments within which would have sat easily anywhere in the catalogue.
The unfortunately named Victoria Train Station Massacre (the album was released a couple of months after the Ariana Grande concert bombing, but advance copies were already out at the time) is short and ranty, segueing into New Facts Emerge, again, a good listen carried by a driving riff. Couples Vs Jobless Mid 30s is more rambling, aimless and frankly all over the place, although it has a certain appeal, however it's still a relief to get back to a tune with the rockabilly feel of Second House Now.
Oi Zztrrk Man is yet another growl, carried by a tight band performance, and that's followed by Gibbus Gibson, possibly the high point of the album, a Smith performance which belies his perilous state of health and a fine backing from Messrs Greenway, Spurr and Melling, but Groundsboy is another one which feels ragged, before the final track, Nine Out Of Ten, a nine minute long rant over a minimal guitar track, which sounds a mess, but actually works better than it should.
And despite MES sounding tired, and a shadow of the young Mark, it's a decent enough album, with enough to keep the enthusiast happy, propelled by a stable and confident band. We won't see his like again.
3* - Even an average Fall album is a good listen.
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