This re-issue of the 2008 album comes with two bonus discs, including an unused version of the album recorded at Britannia Row studios in London and a live set recorded at De La Warr, Bexhill On Sea from 10th May 2008. As with the other Fall reissues these have notes by Fall guru Daryl Easlea and have been mastered by long time engineer Andy Pearce.
The Fall were an English post-punk band, formed in Manchester in 1976. The band existed until 2018 and was essentially built around its founder and only constant member Mark E. Smith. Initially associated with the punk movement of the late 1970s, the group’s music went through several stylistic changes over the years, but is often characterised by an abrasive guitar-driven sound and frequent use of repetition…
…and is always underpinned by Smith’s distinctive vocals and often cryptic lyrics. The band is noted for its prolific output and released 31 studio albums (more than triple that counting live albums and other releases). They never achieved widespread public success beyond a handful of minor hit singles in the late 1980s, but maintained a strong cult following. The band were long associated with BBC disc jockey John Peel, who championed them from early on in their career and cited The Fall as his favourite band, famously explaining, “They are always different; they are always the same.”
Imperial Wax Solvent was the group’s 26th album, originally released in 2008. Following the departure of the American musicians who contributed to Reformation Post-TLC, the new British based line-up was to become the band’s last and longest serving incarnation. Alongside Mark E. Smith was Elena Poulou (keyboards, vocals), Dave Spurr (bass), Pete Greenway (guitar) and Keiron Melling (drums). It was well received by critics and entered the UK Album Charts at #35.
This re-issue of the 2008 album comes with two bonus discs, including an unused version of the album recorded at Britannia Row studios in London and a live set recorded at De La Warr, Bexhill On Sea from 10th May 2008. As with the other Fall reissues these have notes by Fall guru Daryl Easlea and have been mastered by long time engineer Andy Pearce.
This is the latest release in Cherry Red’s series of deluxe Fall reissues – “Fall Sound Archive”…
CD1:
1. Alton Towers (3:28)
2. Wolf Kidult Man (3:03)
3. 50 Year Old Man (11:33)
4. I’ve Been Duped (2:41)
5. Strangetown (5:39)
6. Taurig (2:57)
7. Can Can Summer (3:06)
8. Tommy Shooter (3:44)
9. Latch Key Kid (3:19)
10. Is This New (2:12)
11. Senior Twilight Stock Replacer (3:06)
12. Exploding Chimney (2:32)
CD2:
1. Wolf Kidult Man (Britannia Row Recording) (2:41)
2. I’ve Been Duped (Britannia Row Recording) (2:30)
3. Ponto (Britannia Row Recording) (3:10)
4. Tommy Shooter (Britannia Row Recording) (3:43)
5. Taurig (Britannia Row Recording) (3:03)
6. Can Can Summer (Britannia Row Recording) (2:33)
7. Strangetown (Britannia Row Recording) (2:46)
8. Alton Towers (Britannia Row Recording) (3:03)
9. 50 Year Old Man (Britannia Row Recording) (6:04)
10. Senior Twilight Stock Replacer (Britannia Row Recording) (3:08)
11. Smith And Mark (Britannia Row Recording) (2:42)
12. Inferior Product Man (Britannia Row Recording) (3:09)
13. Is This New (Britannia Row Recording) (2:13)
CD3:
1. Is This New (Live, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea) (4:03)
2. Wings (Live, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea) (3:58)
3. Wolf Kidult Man (Live, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea) (2:52)
4. Fall Sound (Live, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea) (3:31)
5. 50 Year Old Man (Live, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea) (7:08)
6. I’ve Been Duped (Live, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea) (3:54)
7. Mountain Energei (Live, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea) (5:02)
8. White Lightning (Live, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea) (2:02)
9. Can Can Summer (Live, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea) (4:42)
10. Latch Key Kid (Live, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea) (3:03)
11. Mr Pharmacist (Live, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea) (2:12)
12. Tommy Shooter (Live, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea) (5:26)
13. Pacifying Joint (Live, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea) (3:05)
14. Blindness (Live, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea) (9:26)
15. Over! Over! (Live, De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill On Sea) (4:40)