WHO ARE THEY? The three surviving members of The Fall, picking up where they left off after the 2018 death of misanthropic frontman Mark E. Smith — and picking up their name from their first Fall album together, Imperial Wax Solvent.
WHAT IS THIS? Their incredible and indispensable debut disc with new frontman and human foghorn Sam Curran, who’s not only ballsy enough to wade into Smith’s massive wake, but also possesses the power and talent to stand on his own two feet.
WHAT DOES IT SOUND LIKE? Well, not surprisingly, it sounds a lot like The Fall — but bigger, bolder, faster and more ferocious.
HOW SHOULD I LISTEN TO IT? On its own terms. And oh yeah, real loud.
WHAT 10 WORDS DESCRIBE IT? Muscular, heavy, brash, idiosyncratic, dynamic, energized, driving, choppy, angular, confrontational.
WHAT ARE THE BEST SONGS? The whole thing’s a corker from stem to stern — but the twisted nine-minute album centrepiece Rammy Taxi Illuminati deserves special attention.
WHAT WILL MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY THINK? That you’ve discovered an awesome new band. Which you sort of have.
HOW OFTEN WILL I LISTEN TO THIS? More often than you might listen to some of The Fall’s less-focused outings.
IF THIS ALBUM WERE A DRUG, WHAT KIND OF DRUG WOULD IT BE? Bathtub crank.
SHOULD I BUY, STREAM OR STEAL? Don’t be a chiseler.
