Live at the Witch Trials [Deluxe Edition]

by The Fall

Overview

That the first Fall album in a near endless stream would not only not sound very punk at all but would be a downright pleasant listen (thanks to Yvonne Pawlett's electric piano on "Frightened") seems perfectly in keeping with Mark E. Smith's endlessly contrary mind. His inimitable drawl/moan and general vision of the universe (idiots are everywhere and idiotic things are rampant) similarly sprawl all over the music -- there's no question who this is or whose band it is, either. That said, most of Live at the Witch Trials is co-written with Martin Bramah, whose guitar work here is noticeably much more inclined to chime and ring instead of brutally scratch away like Craig Scanlon's awesome work would soon do. Bramah's not just here to sound tuneful, though, and the killer Marc Riley/Karl Burns rhythm section both keeps up the energy and provides surprising grooves. On chugging tracks like "Two Steps Back," it's not hard to tell that Smith's Krautrock fandom is coming into play. With Pawlett's keyboards providing a pretty garage kick on top of it all, the result is an all-around treat. Brilliantly scabrous tracks are everywhere, one of the most memorable being "Rebellious Jukebox," simultaneously one of the most tuneful and aggressive songs from the early lineup, Smith pouring it on along with the band. The driving funk of "Music Scene," meanwhile, redefines misanthropy (and more) with a particularly central Smith target in mind. "No Xmas for John Quays," meanwhile, almost establishes the Fall formula on its own: Smith chanting and yelling over a quick, semi-rockabilly shamble and attack punctuated by unexpected stops and starts. [Cherry Red's 2019 reissue adds to discs of extras to go along with a newly remastered original album. The live set was captured on a cheap recorder at a Liverpool show in 1978 and finds the band in fine fighting shape, ripping through their set. The disc of extras is where the real treats are found. Along with the "Bingo-Master's Break-Out!" and "It's the New Thing" singles there are two very lively Peel sessions, three excitingly raw home rehearsals from 1978 that were issued on a bootleg single, and their two songs from the Short Circuit: Live at the Electric Circus compilation. The disc is rough and tumble for sure, but it is an excellent addition to their already essential debut album.] ~ Ned Raggett

Product Details

Release Date:	05/31/2019
Label:	Cherry Red
UPC:	5013929107304

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Frightened
2. Crap Rap 2/Like to Blow
3. Rebellious Jukebox
4. No Xmas for John Quays
5. Mother-Sister!
6. Industrial Estate
7. Underground Medecin
8. Two Steps Back
9. Live at the Witch Trials
10. Futures and Pasts
11. Music Scene

Disc 2

12. Bingo-Master [Bingo-Master¿¿¿s Break-Out! Single]
13. Psycho Mafia [Bingo-Master¿¿¿s Break-Out! Single]
14. Repetition [Bingo-Master's Break-Out! Single]
15. It's the New Thing [It¿¿¿s the New Thing Single]
16. Various Times [Extended Version] [From It's the New Thing Single]
17. Dresden Dolls [Home Rehearsals] [From Dresden Dolls Bootleg Single]
18. Psycho Mafia [Home Rehearsals] [From Dresden Dolls Bootleg Single]
19. Industrial Estate [Live From Short Circuit] [Live at the Electric Circus]
20. Stepping Out [Live From Short Circuit] [Live at the Electric Circus]
21. Last Orders [Live From Short Circuit] [Live at the Electric Circus]
22. Rebellious Jukebox [John Peel Session, June 15, 1978]
23. Mother¿¿¿Sister! [John Peel Session, June 15, 1978]
24. Industrial Estate [John Peel Session, June 15, 1978]
25. Futures and Pasts [John Peel Session, June 15, 1978]
26. Put Away [John Peel Session, June 12, 1978]
27. Mess of My [John Peel Session, June 12, 1978]
28. No Xmas for John Key [John Peel Session, June 12, 1978]
29. Like to Blow [John Peel Session, June 15, 1978]

Disc 3

30. Like to Blow
31. Stepping Out
32. Two Steps Back
33. Mess of My
34. It's the New Thing
35. Various Times
36. Bingo-Master
37. Frightened
38. Industrial Estate
39. Psycho Mafia
40. Music Scene
41. Mother-Sister!
42. Mother-Sister! [John Peel Session, August 22, 1978]