Albums of the Year # 104 HOUSE OF ALL - HOUSE OF ALL

 

Martin Bramah was my favourite member of The Fall. Sacrilege I know but true. I've struggled with that band a lot down the years. Not with The Fall themselves so much, they produced a handful of genius albums, and no end of classic songs.

My problem really is with the fans. They seem to wish they were Mark E's best friend. Don't they know he was almost devoid of likeable traits, despite his magnificent talent. Inspiring and challenging to the status quo and utterly committed to his vision as he was, would fans tolerate a friend who behaved like he did over the years on such a regular basis.. He was an alcoholic contrarian and that's kind.

They won't stop going on though. These people. Going on about how they love The Fall more than it's possible to love man or beast . How many times they've seen them and how the best of all was at Rochdale Abattoir in 1982 when the band had a fight onstage . Blah, blah, blah. Shut up won't you.

I'm sorry but Mark E. would more than likely have despised you. That's what his response was to almost everyone and most of all to those who loved or admired him it seemed. And that goes for you too Frank Skinner and Stewart Lee. The man was probably the biggest misanthrope ever to climb onstage in the history of Rock & Roll. A great artist. A truly great band. I just don't buy the myth .He was an arsehole and I just don't like them.

Mark E. lieutenant Martin Bramah probably wouldn't take me seriously for a moment. He's doing all he can to keep The Fall flame alive and he's an excellent curator of everything that made them truly exceptional. His latest project HOUSE OF ALL and their eponymous debut album, which also features top rank ex-Fall guys, Steve and Paul Hanley and Simon Wolstencroft,  holds the torch aloft once more and rather splendidly at that.

It's all here. All the surly. signature statements that made the band immortal. But without Mark E spraying spittle all over the mic and the front three rows. Martin, Una, Mark E. and Tony Friel, plotting and tripping on mushrooms and swopping Penguin Classic paperbacks between '75 and '79. If the wheel ain't broke, don't fix it.