The Fall's contractual obligation album. With
Brix leaving (or left, depending on your history) the group, this is a hastily assembled selection of what sound like
Frenz Experiment outtakes and nine live tracks, their last for
Beggars Banquet. These opening five tracks would have made a nice EP supporting the single
"Deadbeat Descendant," the first song featured on the album. They're not among their best, but
"H.O.W. (History of the World)" has a certain grim stateliness to it, with a grungy bassline by
Hanley leading the group.
"Pinball Machine" continues in
Smith's long line of rockabilly covers. The remaining live tracks are competent and follow their studio counterparts well enough, but nothing more. ~ Ted Mills
