The Unutterable

Infobox Album |
Name = The Unutterable
Type = Album
Artist = The Fall


Released = 6 November 2000
Recorded =
Genre = Rock
Length = 55:42
Label = Eagle
Producer = Grant Showbiz, Mark E. Smith
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5sx7gjer36ib link]
* "The Guardian" Rating|4|5 [http://www.guardian.co.uk/friday_review/story/0,3605,391637,00.html 3 Nov. 2000]
* "Mojo" (favourable) [http://www.visi.com/fall/news/001201.html#mojo Nov. 2000]
* "NME" (favourable) [http://www.visi.com/fall/news/001201.html#nme Nov. 2000]

* "Time Out" (favourable) [http://www.visi.com/fall/news/001110.html#time Nov. 2000]
* "Uncut" Rating|4|5 [http://www.visi.com/fall/news/001110.html#uncut Nov. 2000] |
Last album = "Live 1977" (2000)
This album = "The Unutterable" (2000)
Next album = "Liverpool 78" (2001)

"The Unutterable" is an album by British rock band The Fall, released in 2000. It was recorded with much the same line-up as had appeared on the group's previous album, 1999's "The Marshall Suite" (although Kazuko Hohki—the singer from the English-based Japanese band Frank Chickens—provides extra vocals on one track). However, whilst this version of the band was still coming together as the previous album was being made, by the time of the current record they'd had a year to gel as a unit. Therefore, while there is some similarity in the sound of the two, "The Unutterable" was a lot more consistent in its production and songwriting. It was generally well received by the critics, being praised as a "career peak" by Dave Simpson of "The Guardian"Simpson, Dave (3 Nov. 2000). [http://www.guardian.co.uk/friday_review/story/0,3605,391637,00.html Review] . "The Guardian".] , and prompting Piers Martin of the "NME" to suggest, "...this is as vital and relevant as The Fall have sounded for a considerable length of time.Martin, Piers (Nov. 2000). [http://www.visi.com/fall/news/001201.html#nme "The Unutterable"] . "NME".] "

Lyrically, the record covers a diverse number of the themes. On "Dr Bucks' Letter", thought to be a tribute to the American writer Charles BukowskiBush, John. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5sx7gjer36ib Review] . Allmusic. Retrieved 21 Feb. 2006.] , lead singer Mark E. Smith appears to dispraise superficial materialist modernity, stating, "I was in the realm of the essence of Tong", an oblique reference to British DJ Pete Tong. In the song, Smith lists the five things that he, or rather, that Tong, can't leave home without: sunglasses, music, palm pilot, mobile phone and Amex card. Elsewhere on the LP, Smith's lyrics discuss such issues as drugs on the ranting "Ketamine Sun", his aversion to roundabouts on "Way Round", and on the jazz-influenced "Pumpkin Soup and Mashed Potatoes", his favourite meal.

"The Unutterable" is the only Fall studio album not released as vinyl LP. It is also notable for not featuring a cover song, something that has been included on at least one format of all the group's other studio albums from "This Nation's Saving Grace" forwards - although "Ketamine Sun" reportedly started life as a cover of Lou Reed's "Kill Your Sons", there is no musical similarity between the two tracks.

Track listing

:"All songs by Mark E. Smith, Tom Head, Adam Helal, Julia Nagle and Neville Wilding, except where noted"
# "Cyber Insekt" – 3:19
# "Two Librans" – 3:57
# "W.B" – 3:30
# "Sons of Temperance" – 3:47
# "Dr Bucks' Letter" – 5:19
# "Hot Runes" – 2:18
# "Way Round" (Smith, Head, Helal, Nagle) – 3:21
# "Octo Realm/Ketamine Sun" – 5:36
# "Serum" – 4:56
# "Unutterable" – 1:05
# "Pumpkin Soup and Mashed Potatoes" (Smith, Grant Cunliffe, Helal, Nagle) – 2:54
# "Hands Up Billy" (Wilding) – 2:47
# "Midwatch 1953" – 5:32
# "Devolute" – 4:36
# "Das Katerer" (Smith, Nagle, Simon Wolstencroft) – 2:42

Personnel

*The Fall:
**Mark E. Smith – vocals, sound effects
**Neville Wilding – guitar, backing vocals; lead vocals on "Hands Up Billy"
**Adam Helal – bass guitar, Pro Tools, backing vocals
**Tom Head – drums, percussion, backing vocals
**Julia Nagle – keyboards, guitar, backing vocals, programming
*Kazuko Hohki – vocals on "Cyber Insekt"
*Steve Evets - vocals
*Ben Pritchard - guitar on "Dr. Bucks' Letter" and "Midwatch 1953"
*Grant Showbiz - backing vocals
*Rob Ayling - executive producer; vocal on "Octo Realm" (uncredited)

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.freehosting.hostrave.com/p/fall/lyrics.html?http%3A//www.freehosting.hostrave.com/p/fall/unutterable.html Lyrics]