The Fall: Imperial Wax Solvent, 3CD Digipak

The Fall were an English post-punk band, formed in Manchester in 1976. The band existed until 2018 and was essentially built around its founder and only constant member Mark E. Smith. Initially associated with the punk movement of the late 1970s, the group's music went through several stylistic changes over the years, but is often characterised by an abrasive guitar-driven sound and frequent use of repetition, and is always underpinned by Smith's distinctive vocals and often cryptic lyrics.

• The band is noted for its prolific output and released 31 studio albums (more than triple that counting live albums and other releases). They never achieved widespread public success beyond a handful of minor hit singles in the late 1980s, but maintained a strong cult following. The band were long associated with BBC disc jockey John Peel, who championed them from early on in their career and cited The Fall as his favourite band, famously explaining, "They are always different; they are always the same."

• Imperial Wax Solvent was the group’s 26th album, originally released in 2008. Following the departure of the American musicians who contributed to Reformation Post-TLC, the new British based line-up was to become the band’s last and longest serving incarnation. Alongside Mark E. Smith was Elena Poulou (keyboards, vocals), Dave Spurr (bass), Pete Greenway (guitar) and Keiron Melling (drums). It was well received by critics and entered the UK Album Charts at #35.

• This re-issue of the 2008 album comes with two bonus discs, including an unused version of the album recorded at Britannia Row studios in London and a live set recorded at De La Warr, Bexhill On Sea from 10th May 2008. As with the other Fall reissues these have notes by Fall guru Daryl Easlea and have been mastered by long time engineer Andy Pearce.

• This is the latest release in Cherry Red’s series of deluxe Fall reissues – “Fall Sound Archive”…

TRACK LISTING

DISC ONE

IMPERIAL WAX SOLVENT

1. ALTON TOWERS
2. WOLF KIDULT MAN
3. 50 YEAR OLD MAN
4. I'VE BEEN DUPED
5. STRANGE TOWN
6. TAURIG
7. CAN CAN SUMMER
8. TOMMY SHOOTER
9. LATCH KEY KID
10. IS THIS NEW
11. SENIOR TWILIGHT STOCK REPLACER
12. EXPLODING CHIMNEY

DISC TWO

BRITANNIA ROW RECORDINGS

1. WOLF KIDULT MAN
2. I'VE BEEN DUPED
3. PONTO
4. TOMMY SHOOTER
5. TAURIG
6. CAN CAN SUMMER
7. STRANGETOWN
8. ALTON TOWERS
9. 50 YEAR OLD MAN
10. SENIOR TWILIGHT STOCK REPLACER
11. SMITH AND MARK
12. INFERIOR PRODUCT MAN
13. IS THIS NEW

DISC THREE

LIVE FROM DE LA WARR PAVILION, BEXHILL ON SEA, EAST SUSSEX – 10 MAY 2008

1. IS THIS NEW
2. WINGS
3. WOLF KIDULT MAN
4. FALL SOUND
5. 50 YR OLD MAN
6. I'VE BEEN DUPED
7. MOUNTAIN ENERGEI
8. WHITE LIGHTNING
9. CAN CAN SUMMER
10. LATCH KEY KID
11. MR PHARMACIST
12. TOMMY
13. PACIFYING JOINT
14. BLINDNESS
15. OVER OVER