Customer Reviews

The Peel Sessions

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This lengthy CD is an overview of all the Fall appearances on The John Peel Show from 1977 to 1994, one song from each of 17 shows. This is interesting by itself in that it shows the wide range of line-ups and styles the Fall went through in that period. Needless to say, the performances run the gamut, too, from truly inspired and energetic versions of 'M5 #1', 'Idiot Joy Showland', '2 X 4' and the very early 'Rebellious Jukebox', to truly wretched and almost unlistenable (even to THIS Fall freek) versions of 'Winter' and 'Smile'. I sometimes wondered while listening to this album what compiler and long-time Fall Bassist Steven Hanley was thinking of by including such out-of-tune and sloppy versions. Of course The Fall have always loved to irritate...and you have to take that into account. This album may be better for full-out fans, rather than novices to the Wonderful and Frightening World that is the Fall. Don't let me put you off too much though...the gems on this disc truly sparkle!

This is a great retrospective Fall collection, which has been compiled by former band-member Steve Hanley. It contains 17 tracks - one each from the first 17 (!) sessions that The Fall recorded for John Peel's legendary BBC radio show, covering the years from 1978 to 1993 (needless to say that they subsequently recorded a few more)....

It's not a "best of" by any means, but these snapshots from various points in The Fall's long history ably demonstrate that despite the frequent and often turbulent changes to the band's line-up, their musical output has been consistently excellent throughout. Their sound has also changed a great deal since the band's formation in the immediate aftermath of punk in the late 1970s, but somehow or other, each of these selections is still almost instantly recognisable as being by The Fall.

It's often the case that Peel session tracks end up sounding superior to the subsequently re-recorded versions which appear on albums and singles, and that's certainly the case with "Smile", "Athlete cured" and some of the other tracks on this cd, but all are very good indeed.

2010 UPDATE: since John Peel's death in 2004, a 6 cd set of the complete Fall Peel sessions has been released, and if you like the Fall it's an essential purchase.

The Complete Peel Sessions 1978-2004

One of the best things about Peel Sessions is that the recordings have great detail- The BBC studios are equipped with fantastic gear and good engineers that know how to capture a band without directing them down a narrow path. At many points in the career of Manchesters' mighty Fall, the fine folks at BBC's Madia Vale studio have taken in Mark E Smith & company for a day to take a clean audio snapshot of 'The Greatest Rock n' Roll Band Ever' (Mr Peel's sentiment, Mine too).

This CD is 17 tracks, spanning 15 years of The Fall. I recommend this CD for fans of the band only. I don't think that it is a good starting point for someone who is looking for a convienient 'Greatest Hits' package to be their starting block.

Why? Well, the Fall are at their most intense in their original environment, and their albums and singles reflect a band that leaps off the medium and tears through whatever restrictions the cheap recording places on them. Sort of an 'Unlimited Imagination overcoming Limited Technology' fight. While this is a worthwile piece, a uninitiated potential Fall Fan would be better to have a hardcore fan figure out where to dive in.

The recording of 'Cruisers Creek' is better than original, as with 'New Face In Hell'. 'Athelete Cured' enjoys a better stereo flavor than the original, and has a tougher sound all around. Much improved over the Frenz version.

'Free Range' sounds very similar to the original, but I would say that it is probably because a lot of the parts of this song were preprogrammed MIDI sequenced, and thus weren't reinvented for the session. The guitar takes a few stabs at individuality, though. Very nice. The same with 'A Past Gone Mad', there is almost nothing unique here.

Fall fans should pick this disc up as their budget allows, but don't be in a crazy hurry if you haven't picked up all the albums yet. Fill out your collection with proper non-'Reciever Label' titles first. Why more people don't own 'The Light User Syndrome' and play it as religiously as I do, I dunno.