Remainderer

Personnel: Mark E. Smith (vocals); Peter Greenway (guitar); Elena Poulou (keyboards); Keiron Melling (drums); Ding, Tasmin (background vocals).
With plenty of comps, live albums, archival sets, and other whatnot in the Fall's huge discography, stopgap EPs hardly stand out, but The Remainderer deserves to be noted. Even if it is frustratingly short, this purposeful monster kicks off with the throbbing, strong, midtempo title track, which is typical Fall at the top of their game, before the winding "Amorator!" offers some soft and circular sounds that are new to the veteran indie band's sonic palette. Two arty epics fill the middle bit before a Gene Vincent medley of covers and a crisp and snide tune about tablets closes this surprisingly sharp, surprisingly forceful EP. ~ David Jeffries