Tune of the Week: The Fall

The Fall were a post punk group from Manchester, UK centered around singer-songwriter Mark E. Smith. Mr. Smith was in attendence at the infamous Sex Pistols show in Manchester that help birth a rash of influential bands whose members all felt that “if they can do it, so can we.” Not only is Smith’s vocal delivery unique but his writing is also thoroughly modern, incorporating cut-up and Dada techniques. Having featured at least as many band members as years active (42), The Fall are one of rock’s most turbulent as well as prolific bands. By the time of Smith’s death in 2018 there were as many as 32 studio albums released by the group. Released in 1983, this song was their ninth single and features an appearance by an early consumer keyboard, the Casio VL-1. Smith lovingly refers to it as “the bloody blimey Space Invader” in his vocal performance, proving that his renown attitude could directed at inanimate objects as well those living beings trying to create with him.