Live at the Witch Trials (1979)

So here we are, the first Fall LP. Their punk influence is more noticeable here than on many subsequent albums, where they become more experimental and "artsy", and with Mark E. Smith being either 21 or 22, he not only growls with his usual fury but also the general disdain of youth. On top of that, the album was allegedly recorded in a single day, probably out of cost more than anything else, and so it can be assumed certain songs were performed live and with a short number of takes. Despite the time constraints, it still comes off as a strong LP filled with the energy of a young band, even if it isn't all that representative of The Fall as a whole. "Futures and Pasts" has always been a favorite of mine, particularly the Peel session version included as a bonus track on Disc 2. Another Peel Session track, "Put Away" from Dragnet, is also on this disc (as with all the other songs from both the sessions) is on Disc 2 and is also a personal. The reissue's quality is great, the bass and drums sound particularly good in the mix, and the bonus tracks round out an already good album.

Live at the Witch Trials - B

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