The Marshall Suite

The Fall's infamous New York shows of 1997 culminated in Mark E Smith's arrest for assault and the departure of two long-term band members. Undeterred, Smith assembled a new lineup of young unknowns and cut THE MARSHALL SUITE. Despite the personnel changes, the band sounds as raw and abrasive as ever, with Smith's ranting even more indecipherable than usual.
"Touch Sensitive" and "The Crying Marshall" are instant Fall classics, the latter possessing a ferocious breakbeat that's sure to please old fans. The group's predilection for obscure cover versions continues with "F-Oldin' Money", a rockabilly gem with Smith bemoaning his lack of cash. On "(Jung Nev's) Antidotes" the band bizarrely transforms into Led Zeppelin for three-and-a-half minutes of towering fury. For those dipping into the Fall's massive and bewildering back catalogue for the first time, THE MARSHALL SUITE is the most satisfying of the group's late-'90s releases.|