The wait is over – or at least it's about to get a whole lot shorter! Manchester post-punk legends The Fall have finally unveiled '30 Degrees', a stunning new single that gives fans their first taste of the band's long-awaited final album, 'Post Script'. Six years on from the passing of their enigmatic frontman Mark E. Smith, this track marks a seismic moment for the devoted fanbase – and what a way to do it! Emerging from six years of silence, '30 Degrees' is a testament to the enduring influence of The Fall's unique sound and the unbridled creative force that was Mark E. Smith.
It's been revealed that Smith had indeed been working tirelessly on new material right up until his untimely death in 2018. And what we're getting now is the culmination of those late nights and early mornings, compiled and completed by former Fall member and manager Ed Blaney into the 9-track 'Post Script' – which, according to Blaney himself, contains "absolute bangers". With its release mere months away, fans are salivating at the prospect of immersing themselves in this new chapter of The Fall's storied discography.
'30 Degrees', a four-minute psych-rock odyssey, is a masterclass in textures and atmosphere. Fuzzy synthesiser swirls give way to a driving bassline that'll have you moving in no time – all underpinned by the unmistakable lyrical genius of Mark E. Smith. His words are like a finely-tuned scalpel, cutting through the noise with their surreal wit and acerbic charm.
The Fall's origins date back to a pivotal moment at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester, where Mark E. Smith was witness to the Sex Pistols' riotous performance. The rest, as they say, is history – from debut EP 'Bingo-Master's Break Out!' (1978) to their first album 'Live At The Witch Trials', released the following year. But it was in the 1980s that The Fall truly came into their own, marrying commercial success with a loyal fanbase and cementing Mark E. Smith as one of the most innovative – if not uncompromising – voices of the era.
The band's sonic DNA is forever linked to Smith's unique lyrical style: complex, literary, and shot through with his distinctive abrasive delivery. And their musical approach? Well, as Smith himself put it, "The three Rs are repetition, repetition, repetition" – a mantra that encapsulates the hypnotic patterns that defined The Fall's sound.
Of course, Mark E. Smith's passing left an indelible mark on British music – but his legacy lives on through '30 Degrees' and the imminent release of 'Post Script'. Meanwhile, fellow Fall alum Brix Smith has also continued to make waves in her solo career, releasing the critically-acclaimed 'Valley Of The Dolls' last year.
So when can you get your hands (and ears) on this incredible new music? Details regarding the full release of 'Post Script', including ordering information and a release date, are expected to be announced imminently – but rest assured, it's worth the wait!
Stream '30 Degrees' now on major platforms and hold onto your seat for what promises to be The Fall's most significant release in years.