Though
Live at the Witch Trials
was the first
Fall
album, the band already had some singles and recordings under its belt, conveniently collected on the self-descriptive
Early Years
, along with a few post-
Witch Trials
efforts. Various initial lineups appear -- some tracks have
Martin Bramah
on guitar, others with
Marc Riley
after he switched from bass, while
Craig Scanlon
first steps out with the commanding rave-up
"Rowche Rumble."
Then there's the keyboard work of
Una Baines
, later
Bramah
's partner in
the Blue Orchids
, who brings her own semi-
psych
feel to the proceedings. No matter who's around, though, it's still very much
the Fall
,
Smith
's immediately identifiable vocals leading the way. It's amusing to hear the semi-conventional
punk
edge in his voice on some of the earliest songs, but that said, his approach did more or less appear fully formed, down to the drawling "-uh" at the end of nearly every word.
's guitar work contains a delicacy that wouldn't last, at least quite the same way, while first and future drummer
Karl Burns
throws in his own flair more often than not (including the near-
disco
moves on
"Psykick Dancehall"
). There are even some gently pretty moments when least expected -- consider the flow of
"In My Area,"
a portrait of urban breakdown that's almost winsome, or would be if
was a conventionally calm singer. The leadoff track -- actually a B-side for the first single,
"Bingo Master's Breakout"
-- is pretty much
manifesto in a nutshell:
"Repetition,"
drawing together
's obsession with the basics with
avant-garage
art rock
focus courtesy of
Krautrock
. ~ Ned Raggett