blasting version off their legendary double single, recorded for John Peel on september the 16th 1980... holy irreverent track... enjoy this old puritan saying for all these new puritans rising !!! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fall...
I sold a copy of the 3rd Scott Walker album to Birmingham's Plastic Factory in the mid 80s and had to accept their offer of £5 because I was flat broke. Then next week, they were selling it for £20. In revenge I "liberated" a copy of this amazing double single (it was easier to smuggle out than Throbbing Gristle's Frankfurt/Berlin 12"). Much as I love Scott and TG, I still think I came out on top eventually.
M.E.S. as post-punk's Witchfinder General. One of his most commanding lyrical performances, and that's saying something. I used to walk round school quoting "the experimental is now conventional".
Every single line in this song is fucking brilliant. MES doesn't usually get brought up in the conversation of all time best rock lyricists, but he damn well should.
Peel sits behind his console... grins and shakes his head. I am again in the presence of genius in the form of some new puritans... post grim nation state...
Early 1980. The Fall need a new drummer after Mike Leigh quits. Steve Hanley's 16 year old brother Paul has an audition. Mark E Smith tests him out, with lyrics to a song he's just written - New Puritan - and asks Paul to play along. He spontaneously comes up with the rhythm you're listening to. Read all about it in Steve's great book.
Fall at their mightiest. The experimental is now conventional. Famous apes. Hail the New Puritan. Yes Mr. Smith, greatest Fall song ever. Not on any LP. Just a strange acoustic version on Totale Turns. Enigma. The snap at the end of the straw.
Pretty much every Fall record from the eighties is gold. Plenty of nuggets afterwards, too. But I agree that the Riley era is untouchable, and the high water mark for grumpy blokes with guitars.
As much as I like Riley's work, I think my favourite Fall album is probably Perverted by Languge, just after he went. Scanlon really steps up his game in Riley's absence.
@@hilaryjohnson2386totally different band by 1985. The only year I saw then live, coincidentally. Was that the year of the Hey Luciana! play cos I saw that too?
@@jimburton1 there's this myth about the Fall now, that everything he touched was gold. I've listened to some of the later hired hand records and they're just competent garage rock. The true Fall was the creeping dread Fall, and, it's true, no-one can keep that schtick going for too long. It either kills you (artistically or otherwise) or you become a self-parody like Tom Waits or Nick Cave.
@@chaunceyloveshack9530 You don't think the opening drum beat sounds like a mutant version of "Making Plans For Nigel"? ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-yp-WJXOb2V4.html
Underrated? I don't think so, maybe underappreciated, but he and his brother formed the main rhythm section of the band during their glory years - while not as flashy as Karl (Brilliant in his own right) the Hanleys are tight as fuck.
Drinkin heavily & Smoking tobacco!? New Puritans hate the poet Mark E. Smith and his commentaries ......ha ha ha ha ha. Pure on. Ciggie at side as seen. OMG not Puritan!
