THE FALL

Anyone who sings "I'm so sick of Snow Patrol" deserves our attention, particularly if it's Mark E. Smith: we're all ears. The fave band of John Peel has delivered their 29th studio-album and as all Fall-fans know very well, their days of melody are over. The previous album was one piece of chaotic noise and this is the path that Smith and his comrades keep on following.

Expect no melody as there isn't any, don't think you can sing along to even one note (unless you're completely drunk, that is!) cos this is Mark E. Smith. He mumbles some words, which seem like nothing but a heap of nonsense. It sounds just like the views of someone who thinks the purpose of life is just to live it. Cynical punk for punks who never cared about mohawks, and this must be the keyword after all: punk. A mess, if you want, painfully kicking some ass with heavy boots.

Nothing has changed except the face. Mark has lost his teeth and hair. He has even lost his typical voice, yet the anger remains and he does this like nobody else. Don't expect this album to be This Nation's Saving Grace or Code:Selfish. God, it may be true that if you've heard one Fall-album you've heard 'em all, but the bizarre thing is that all 29 of them sound different, and so does Ersatz GB.

Is it their best album? Nah. One of the best albums of this year? You bet. It's only chaotic rock'n roll for psychotics, but I like it!

Didier BECU
19/03/2012