Product Description

Seminal British post-punks the Fall have been through so many stylistic and personnel changes that it's easy to forget the unadulterated fury that marked the band's early recordings. HEX INDUCTION HOUR features the classic late-'70s lineup, full of scratchy, occasionally discordant guitars, forcefully spastic rhythms and Mark E. Smith's trademark rants thatcombine the punk aesthetic with unfettered beat poetry. Smith's narratives are often difficult to follow, but like muchgreat poetry, it's the gestalt that matters most. HEX ENDUCTION HOUR features some of the best-known songs from the Fall's early period, including low-key 6/8 "Hip Priest" and theroaring "The Classical", making it a must-have for fans of the group's punkier side.

Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. The Classical
2. Jawbone + The Air-Rifle
3. Hip Priest
4. Fortress / Deer Park
5. Mere Pseud Mag. Ed
6. Winter (Hostel-Maxi)
7. Winter 2
8. Just Step S'ways
9. Who Makes The Nazis?
10. Iceland
11. And This Day

Disc 2:

1. Deer Park
2. Who Makes The Nazis?
3. I'm Into C.B.
4. Session Musician
5. Jazzed Up Punk Shit
6. I'm Into C.B. (Stars On 45 Version)
7. And This Day
8. Deer Park
9. And This Day (Revisited)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4234 in Music
• Released on: 2008-02-26
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Box set
• Running time: 118 minutes

Customer Reviews

A Fantastic Racket
The Fall's refusal to stay in one musical place for long has led to many good but few great records. Sometimes production lets them down, sometimes song choice and sometimes it's the performances. The Fall's more recent releases, for example, have included some fine music but occasionaly suffer (sorry Fall die-hards)at the hands of Mark E Smith. He may be the main driving force behind every Fall record but there's no getting away from the fact that sometimes his vocals sound like a Friday night drunk, reading his order off the menu at a Chinese takeaway. Then again, that may be the appeal to some listeners. And to be honest, like or loathe what they do you wouldn't change them and on most records they do manage one or two superb songs.
On "Hex...", however, they manage more than that. There's nothing here that doesn't work. From the production, to the songs, to the performances it's the Fall's most exciting moment. Although on first play you may think "total racket" , a couple of plays later and you'll be thinking "...what a fantastic racket". It's as abrasive as sandpaper, as loud as screams and you wouldn't change a note or fiddle with a single dial.

a hidden classic
This was my first Fall album and it's just superb. Melodic bass drives most of these tracks and, along with Mark E. Smith on vocals, an addictive musical concoction is created. The lyrics are both humourous and thought provoking, and are delivered in Smith's own inimitible style. Tracks that really stick in my mind are Classical, and Hip Priest, phrases from each will stick in your mind and make you spin the CD once more to get another fix.

The bonus CD with live tracks is fantastic as well, I can only recommend this album. If you havent heard The Fall before then this is a good starter album, if you already know The Fall then you'll be aware that this is considered to be one of their best (they have released about 25 studio albums since 1979!). Just buy it!

No review
There is little that can be said about this. If you like the Fall the chances are that you already know this work. If you do not like the Fall, this is not going to change your mind. It is the perfect piece of Fallness from their early mid period, its breadth and majesty dwarfing their peers.