The Fall – Room To Live (1982)

My second purchase from Rock On Records in Stamford was The Fall's 1982 follow up to the hugely praised and groundbreaking Hex Enduction Hour.

I hadn't actually heard this before (although many of the tracks were familiar), but I had heard about it. Let's crack on!

When you know you've put out a post-punk classic, and everyone has told you such, how do you follow it? If you're Mark E Smith, you bang out a half constructed mini album while the band implodes around you.

Sadly, that's what he delivered, seven songs, mostly based on one riff, with nothing that is likely to make the definitive Best Of The Fall album (as if such a thing could exist).

That said, opener Joker Hysterical Face is a likeable jaunty number followed however by the one joke Marquis Cha Cha, a faux Latin beat ( with just Hanley P, Smith and Burns) trying in vain to get some structure in the song. Hard Life In Country features about sixteen seconds of guitar from guest Arthur Cadman (he estimates that he spent two minutes in the studio with the band, which nevertheless gets him a writing credit) and its minimalism is more annoying than inspiring. Room To Live feels like it has potential, but is still under construction, while Detective Instinct benefits from the minimalism, just Hanley's bass and Scanlon/Riley/Burns? guitar parts giving an air of menace and mystery. Solicitor In Studio feels the strongest track on the album, the whole band evident on a solid song. The album ends with the dire Papal Visit, MES torturing a violin while mumbling, and Karl Burns bashing whatever comes to hand.

This being the enhanced version (although leaving off Papal Visit might have done that) we have half a dozen live tracks, mostly the songs on this album, none more impressive live than on the album finishing with the 'only here and on the Peel Sessions' track Words Of Expectation, a one riff Smith rant.

While the panning this album got isn't undeserved, Papal Visit apart, all the original songs have some merit, and for the most part, make for a decent listen. Had Smithy lost it? We all know there's lots more to come!

Link to album tracks

3* - even a disappointing Fall album has enough interest for the enthusiast. As someone once said "You Must Get Them All"