Very good audience recording.
As one can see the band plays the large part of "Perverted by Language" and plays it very indeed. I had seen them two night prior to this in the echoey barn of the Hacienda and I have to say this feels like a much better gig in terms of presence and delivery. That they start with a memorable reading of "Garden" is perhaps the thing that sways my opinion. A series of memorable explosions of sound from the twin drums backed by steady riffing from Steve and Craig and a yelping, spitting, shrieking Smithy.
A sharp and workmanlike "Ludd Gang" leads to a lengthy and speedy "Man whose head" dominated by racy bass from Steve. Craig plays the Casio VL-Tone thingy for the opening section and gives it some welly - Mark instructs that the space invader machine be turned off leading to some Beefheartian licks and back-beat drums. Mark mutters something at the beginning of "Smile" - no false start this time as with two nights before - instead a howling scabrous rant of memorable constituency - both erotic and emotive whilst presenting a baleful anger-fest of unrelenting rhythmic noise.
"Hexen" is all sharp chords and loping rhythm over understated delivery from Mark. "Voxish" is crisp and from the garage and full of contrapuntal niceness...."Eat yrself Fitter" is its usual over the top self .... "Neighbourhood" is wonderous - a collage of clashing guitar and atonal keyboard precedes the call for Mr Wray, exceptionally sloppy until the drums begin and then off an a Can-like ramble through the Yorkshire night.
"Wings" is immense - some particuarly fine guitar from Craig and some exceptional rhythms from Karl and Paul. "Kicker" similarly an excellent rhythmic workout, the band completely on the button timing wise and tight as ducks chuff (whatever that means)...followed by a mammoth "Backdrop" where Hanley S holds the line as the band launch into an assault on the senses over a memorable ten minutes plus. Again its the tightness of the twin drum line up here which takes the breath away.
It finishes with a short but perfectly formed "Prole Art Threat".
I've often described the band at this time, and on this tour, as hard to listen to and somewhat unforgiving. On this night however there is greatness and a sense of the core schema of The Fall.
Great gig and well worth a listen.
As one can see the band plays the large part of "Perverted by Language" and plays it very indeed. I had seen them two night prior to this in the echoey barn of the Hacienda and I have to say this feels like a much better gig in terms of presence and delivery. That they start with a memorable reading of "Garden" is perhaps the thing that sways my opinion. A series of memorable explosions of sound from the twin drums backed by steady riffing from Steve and Craig and a yelping, spitting, shrieking Smithy.
A sharp and workmanlike "Ludd Gang" leads to a lengthy and speedy "Man whose head" dominated by racy bass from Steve. Craig plays the Casio VL-Tone thingy for the opening section and gives it some welly - Mark instructs that the space invader machine be turned off leading to some Beefheartian licks and back-beat drums. Mark mutters something at the beginning of "Smile" - no false start this time as with two nights before - instead a howling scabrous rant of memorable constituency - both erotic and emotive whilst presenting a baleful anger-fest of unrelenting rhythmic noise.
"Hexen" is all sharp chords and loping rhythm over understated delivery from Mark. "Voxish" is crisp and from the garage and full of contrapuntal niceness...."Eat yrself Fitter" is its usual over the top self .... "Neighbourhood" is wonderous - a collage of clashing guitar and atonal keyboard precedes the call for Mr Wray, exceptionally sloppy until the drums begin and then off an a Can-like ramble through the Yorkshire night.
"Wings" is immense - some particuarly fine guitar from Craig and some exceptional rhythms from Karl and Paul. "Kicker" similarly an excellent rhythmic workout, the band completely on the button timing wise and tight as ducks chuff (whatever that means)...followed by a mammoth "Backdrop" where Hanley S holds the line as the band launch into an assault on the senses over a memorable ten minutes plus. Again its the tightness of the twin drum line up here which takes the breath away.
It finishes with a short but perfectly formed "Prole Art Threat".
I've often described the band at this time, and on this tour, as hard to listen to and somewhat unforgiving. On this night however there is greatness and a sense of the core schema of The Fall.
Great gig and well worth a listen.