Good audience tape. Track one is mostly lost due to sound drop-outs.
Fine gig with the band hitting all the right targets. Some occassional sloppy drumming from Hanley P. but generally very passable indeed.
The opening cackle and whine of "Blob/Early Lie Dream" is mostly lost to the vagaries of the tape machine. However this is redeemed with a scabrous "Prole Art Threat", an excellent "Jaw Bone" and a transcendant "Middlemass". Much has been at the time of writing this review about the Galtymore gigs of middle September 2006 and Smiths shamanic grasp of the Fall ethos. Here in "Middlemass" this is clearly evident with the violent polemic he delivers.
"Rowche Rumble" gets some backing vocals from the crowd and is delivered with some verve. The sound collapses slightly as the drums merge with the keyboards but Smith is generally audible. "An Older Lover" is a welcome respite from the preceding density of sound - however still wracked with tension as Smith provides a relentless backbone to the shifting guitar and bass patterns. "It's Friday and its crap-a-rap" announces as a jaunty ramble round hobgoblin land .... and then the sublime motorik ritual of "Leave the Capitol" performed with clinical clarity and definition that gives a shiver up the back.
The audience gets over nine minutes of the Totale mythos - some of the tension and violence from the proceeding is transformed into a rolling morasse of sensual cloying rhythm overlayed with manic hip-preacherdom from Smith. The keys and guitars are particularly harsh and unforgiving.
"Gramme Friday" is delivered well, a definative live version of this number from "Grotesque after the Gramme". Mark announces "Slates" in an cod-rock star fashion.
The two encores are beset by some audience banter with Smith who pushes "Fit and Workin Again" against the requests for earlier material. The audience around the taper express glee at the appearance of "Muzorewis" which completes the gig with notable energy.
A good gig with some high points.
Fine gig with the band hitting all the right targets. Some occassional sloppy drumming from Hanley P. but generally very passable indeed.
The opening cackle and whine of "Blob/Early Lie Dream" is mostly lost to the vagaries of the tape machine. However this is redeemed with a scabrous "Prole Art Threat", an excellent "Jaw Bone" and a transcendant "Middlemass". Much has been at the time of writing this review about the Galtymore gigs of middle September 2006 and Smiths shamanic grasp of the Fall ethos. Here in "Middlemass" this is clearly evident with the violent polemic he delivers.
"Rowche Rumble" gets some backing vocals from the crowd and is delivered with some verve. The sound collapses slightly as the drums merge with the keyboards but Smith is generally audible. "An Older Lover" is a welcome respite from the preceding density of sound - however still wracked with tension as Smith provides a relentless backbone to the shifting guitar and bass patterns. "It's Friday and its crap-a-rap" announces as a jaunty ramble round hobgoblin land .... and then the sublime motorik ritual of "Leave the Capitol" performed with clinical clarity and definition that gives a shiver up the back.
The audience gets over nine minutes of the Totale mythos - some of the tension and violence from the proceeding is transformed into a rolling morasse of sensual cloying rhythm overlayed with manic hip-preacherdom from Smith. The keys and guitars are particularly harsh and unforgiving.
"Gramme Friday" is delivered well, a definative live version of this number from "Grotesque after the Gramme". Mark announces "Slates" in an cod-rock star fashion.
The two encores are beset by some audience banter with Smith who pushes "Fit and Workin Again" against the requests for earlier material. The audience around the taper express glee at the appearance of "Muzorewis" which completes the gig with notable energy.
A good gig with some high points.