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THE REVIEW
The Fall are (we're talking about '79) one of the most important bands of the new wave, properly understood as post-punk. Starting from a "kraut 'n' roll," they then drift towards purely "pop" influences... this LP is meant to be a watershed between the two periods. It comes right after "Dragnet," which is considered their masterpiece, and perhaps for this reason, it is overlooked. But upon listening, there are truly original ideas and even more experimental than their previous records...
The record opens with "Pay Your Rates", which begins as a battle-ready punk rock only to become (after a few seconds???) a sort of putrescent and noise-driven declamation, and Mark E. Smith is like a kind of Bob Dylan from the afterlife. Then it moves to "English Scheme," a cheerful pop punk "anthem" that might remind one of the Wire's "Pink Flag".... however, it's a piece neither here nor there... but it's with "New Face In Hell" that Mark unleashes... on a noise base that could be related to the no wave, he declaims nonsense verses with strange noises and plenty of excitement...
Instead, it's the piece "C'N'C-S Mithering" that makes the record take off: a steady beat... almost metronomic... guitar arpeggios, Mark's voice filtered and declaiming... the piece lasts almost 8 minutes and it could be said that it never changes and so might seem boring if one doesn't have an ear for certain sound solutions, but it's precisely in pieces like these where Smith's dadaist "slam poetry" is revealed. "Impression of J Temperance" remains on the same line as "Mithering," but ends up being even more prolix and boring (it also gives a headache, by the way) the whole record stays on this line.... if the first part maintained an innovative and anti-traditional approach, the second indeed keeps this style.. but in a more chaotic way and above all not memorable... what can I say?
A classic transitional record... after all, the Fall have accustomed and will continue to accustom us to far other things.
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Summary by Bot
Grotesque (After the Gramme) by The Fall is a pivotal album marking their transition from krautrock-inspired sounds to more pop-oriented post-punk. Following their acclaimed Dragnet, this record is experimental and showcases original ideas, though some tracks can feel chaotic or less memorable. The album features innovative noise elements and Mark E. Smith’s distinctive dadaist vocal delivery, making it a classic yet uneven transitional work.
The Fall
The Fall were an English post-punk band formed in 1976, strongly identified with vocalist and main lyricist Mark E. Smith, known for constant line-up changes and a repetitive, abrasive, minimalist sound.15 Reviews
