Essential Links
1989
Race With The Devil
Gene Vincent cover, the follow up to Be Bop A Lula, as performed at John Peel's 50th birthday bash and learned especially for the occasion, as MES states at the beginning. Fairly straightforward rocker with nice rumbling bass and mumbled lyrics catching the drift of the original if not the actual words.
Mollusc In Tyrol
Taped in MES's front room, possibly in Edinburgh. This obligatory lo-fi experimental track actually sounds like it could be no bad, given a full-blown studio treatment. But then, that would destroy its 'charm' I suppose. According to an interview with Fall producer Craig Leon in issue 3 of The Pseud Mag, this song is actually MES vocalising over the music from an instrumental track on Leon's solo album, Nommos. The enhanced instrumental part was used as an intro and outro tape at gigs at the time, hence its appearance on 27 Points.
H.O.W.
Or History Of the World. Another neglected masterpiece. How underrated is Seminal Live? The basic grumbling Stranglers-esque bass line carries the tune while the lyrics are a marvel of exploration in the possibilty of distorting and exploiting scientific explanations and historical interpretations. The omnipotent narrator revels in his abilty to manipulate and distort orthodox worldviews, lurching from the misreading of Easter Island to altering tree-rings 'so that what you are after/You will not ever find with a surfeit of lumber.' Brilliant lyrical invention, along with the Hiss Hiss Hissing of History like a pantomime villain. Probably my new favourite Fall song. (This, of course, will change).
Pinball Machine
A song for broken hearted truckers everywhere, this country and western cover of a Lonnie Irving single from 1960 details the sorry tale of an old road hog who leaves his family in favour of an old truck, whisky and pinball machines. A cheery tale, especially when his wife commits suicide after her babies die of pneumonia. Against this tragic scenario, Steve Hanley plays a mean and delightfully slightly out of tune banjo.