THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Infotainment Scan was originally released in 1993 and was the band 15th studio album, reaching No. 9 on the charts. This box contains singles, demos, BBC sessions and three live shows. Compiled with Fall expert Conway Patton, with notes by Daryl Easlea, it was mastered by longtime engineer Andy Pearce, with art by Becky Stewart.
The Fall were an English post-punk band, formed in Manchester in 1976. They were essentially built around founder and only constant member Mark E. Smith. Initially associated with the punk movement of the late 1970s, the group’s music went through stylistic changes over the years, but was often characterised by an abrasive, guitar-driven sound and frequent use of repetition, underpinned by Smith’s distinctive vocals and often cryptic lyrics.
The band were noted for their prolific output: They released 31 studio albums, along with more live albums, compilations and other releases, many issued against Smith’s wishes. They never achieved widespread public success beyond a handful of minor hit singles in the late 1980s, but maintained a strong cult following until disbanding upon Smith’s death in 2018. The band were long associated with BBC DJ John Peel, who championed them from early on in their career and cited them as his favourite band, famously explaining, “They are always different; they are always the same.”
