#tnsg

[pienaud]

Apr 12th, 2024

today, i watched “18x2: Beyond youthful day”, again and alone, for sure.

i like that, alwaysss, go the movie theater n watch a movie by myself

the 1st time,

i just feel sad overall the movie and actually there is nothing stay in my mind expect an incomplete love as well sad ending. Yu know what, i remember how i got interested and happy and smileeeee when i saw Taiwan on the screen: sound of Chinese, motorbike on the street, peaceful alley, night market, local food store, Bao An station, mini basketball court in the yard and way to much thingsssss about Tainan.

i was thinking about how it gonna be in Taiwan on my next trip but also why the love story in the movie is so similar to yu and me. It was a mixing feeling and what I know is I didnt know actually…

the 2nd,

hhhhh there was tons of work need to be done but suddenly just want to watch the movie again, so here it is, iykyk.

wait, yu know what, the night before, we met, in my dream

yu were there, i was there, i remembered it all too well,

we traveled but not together, we knew but avoid to know, we met directly but treat indirectly, we were familiar but different, we were close but far, …

and things had been through hardly in that but why i also want to be there again, fck i can meet yu

Just a movie but why it is so similar…like us

I thought about Taiwan, about Tainan, about yu

I cried, i did cried, a lot and a lot

I hate that but I love that,

Vietnamese traveled to Taiwan

Taiwanese traveled to Vietnam

Taipei and Saigon

Tainan and Phu Quoc (Kien Giang)

The distance, the story, the feeling….

I got it all too well, too too well

“Traveling is fun because you never know what will happen”,

“Tainan?” - “Người Đài Nam?”,

“I want to see the town where she grew up” ,

… i want to see the town where he grew up

“I've always wanted to ride tandem on a scooter in Taiwan”,

“This feels so good! Just like in the Taiwanese movies!”,

“Sóng-lah?”,

“Jimmy”

…”Charlie”

“When travel, we will meet people who leave a special mark in our hearts, did I leave something in Ami's heart?”

… did i leave something in Charlie’s heart?

“How are you?” - “Có khoẻ không?”

“Those kinds of encounters don't happen often in life” - “Những cuộc gặp gỡ như thế không thường xuất hiện trong đời đâu”

“Boys from the south are mysterious grace” - “Con trai miền Nam dịu dàng một cách kỳ lạ”

“Tainan at last” - “Cuối cùng cũng đến Đài Nam”

hmm thats it

ayy i also saw “Vietnam at Taiwan” on the movie, i like that scene

…so just a little bit, kay?

#cwac #tnsg #twvn

[lyrics365]

Set Me Free (Feat. JustEddy, TNSG)

Set Me Free (Feat. JustEddy, TNSG)

No L’s, put me through hell See the moonlight when you let it exhale Couple round trips back to the hotel Two or three drinks, but it don’t sit well I know that you as of lately patiently waiting for me to fill up my plate I’ve been spending all my time with you, But how can I get money without going my way Let me lay it down on you baby (Girl you know I’m not playing) Let me slow it down for you…

View On WordPress

#entoy

[samcrobae]

A little EZ

Gif credit: @xxrouxx

“Angel, he’s the sweetest!” You exclaim as you held Angel’s son in your arms for the first time. Adelita sat on the other side of the couch looking exhausted. “Ugh and he smells like a sweet little baby!” Angel and EZ exchange glances, Angel sporting a smirk on his face and raises his eyebrows in your direction. EZ rolls his eyes.

“Adelita are you guys sure you don’t wanna take a nap for a little? We can keep an eye on him. You guys look exhausted.” You ask.

Angel looks over at Adelita who was practically asleep in the chair. “A little sleep would be nice mi dulce, are you sure Y/N?” You roll your eyes at Angels question. “Yes! Go! Sleep. Shower. Whatever. We’ll be here.”

A few hours later you’re still laid out on the couch with the baby watching tv with EZ, your legs across his lap. You had been with EZ for 3 years. Married 1. You both had talked about the future and knew you wanted kids. Lots of them. But we’re waiting for the right time. EZ looked over at you, a smile spread across his lips. “You know... with that baby on your chest you got a whole MILF vibe going.”

You roll your eyes “stop! This is your nephew, Reyes. Isn’t he just the best? Look at him! So peaceful, he smells so good, his little sounds are precious. I can’t wait til we have our little baby one day.” “Yeah. Maybe we don’t have to wait much longer?”

“What? Like now? Like have a kid now? Really?” Your eyes on the verge of tears, your heart feeling like it could explode. “Ezekiel, are you sure?”

He chuckles, his hands on your legs. “I mean yeah, why not? We know this is what we both want, we’re married, got our own place, you’d be an incredible mother to our kids Querida. I love you more than anything. I want this with you.”

After dinner, you helped clean up and said your goodbyes, reminding Angel that if he ever needed a sitter, you’d be more than happy to come by anytime. On the drive home, EZ couldn’t keep his hands off you. His hands roamed your thighs, played with your fingers, held your hand, brought it up to kiss it occasionally. He was all smiles all the way home. As soon as you walked in the door, his hands were all over your body, kissing every piece of skin on you with an animalistic hunger in his eyes.

“EZ! What is going on!” You laugh as he showers kisses down your neck. He looks up at you, quickly removing his shirt and works on his belt buckle, “what? The baby doesn’t just make itself baby.” You let out a squeal as he quickly threw you over his shoulder and carried you to the bedroom.

—————-

A couple months later you were feeling so defeated. Taking test after test and seeing tnsg negative result in the window was enough to break you. No one knew you had been trying to get pregnant so you couldn’t talk to anyone about it. You had said you would stop trying so hard and if it happened if happened, and if not fine. Your period was late again, but you were sure you weren’t pregnant, after the last few months of having late periods and not being pregnant, but you’d decided you’d humor yourself and take a test anyway.

“Pregnant”. You stared at the test with such big eyes you felt like they’d bulge out of your face. “Oh my god!” You whisper to yourself. “Holy shit.” You felt the tears roll down your face. You were pregnant. You and EZ were going to be parents.

“Baby, you good? You’ve been in there for a while.” You hear a knock on the door and EZ calling out to you. “Yeah, just one second!” You reply. You opened the door to see EZ standing there with a towel in hand and clean clothes.

“No rush, I was just wanting to take a shower. I think you should come take one with me... I know we said we would stop trying, but it doesn’t mean we can’t practice trying right?” He leans in and wraps you into him, kissing your cheek then your lips. “EZ...” you pull away turn back to the bathroom counter. “Look...” you hold up the test and his eyes go wide. “No way... baby... seriously ?!!! Holy shit!” He lifts you up and spins you around, you laughing and crying at the same time. He showers your face with kisses and sets you down. “Oh man this ... this is amazing. I love you. I fucking love you. I can’t wait to tell everyone.”

A couple hours later you’re back at Angels house for dinner. The rest of the MC is there and everyone’s drinking and having a good time. Angel came and sat with you and EZ, bringing beers to the table.

“Oh thanks, Angel, but can I just have some water? I’m driving tonight.” Angel pushes the beer closer to you. “What? Oh come on. This is your favorite. I made Adelita run out and pick this up just for you.” You and EZ look at each other, the biggest grin flashed across his face. “What’s going on, what’s funny?” Angel asks. Suddenly he looks at both of you as if it all just clicked.

“Wait.... are you? Did my baby brother slip one past the goalie?!” EZ stood up from his chair and called for everyone’s attention. “Hey everyone! I’m gonna be a dad!!!” Everyone let’s out cheers, hugs, and “congratulations” to both of you.

“I love you, our kid is going to be so bad ass.” He places a kiss on your lips, “if he’s anything like his dad, I’m sure he will be.” You reply.

#ez reyes #mayans imagine #mayans fandom #mayansfx #mayans fanfic #jdpardo

[hippriestess]

The Fall – The Post-MES Years

It is now two and a half years since the passing of Mark E Smith and, therefore, the end of The Fall. In her show, “Savage”, comedian and writer Alice Fraser notes that “only the unfinished contains the infinite” and there was something not just sad but also oddly inappropriate about The Fall being finished and the catalogue therefore finite. Of course, the music industry doesn’t work like that and we have had no shortage of opportunities to add to our Fall collections since January 2018.

On the whole, the array of releases that have emerged since Smith’s cruel and premature death have been every bit as mixed a bag as one could have expected had one been sufficiently engaged with those which appeared in his lifetime. The quality, price and value of these additions to the catalogue have all the highs and lows we had come to endure from the mid '90s forwards and range from the essential to the unnecessary, from the delightful to the unedifying, from the respectful to the vulturous (in the aftermath). This is going to take a few posts so let's call this Part 1 and let’s leave those that beggared belief for now and look at those that rewarded belief in Beggars...

Beggars Banquet could be said to have waded in quite quickly but we need to be fair to them. The Arkive, as the catalogue and reissues division of the label is known, had long noted the ever-growing market for vinyl and had been quietly putting some classics from the BB catalogue back onto plastic for quite some time. It was, therefore, inevitable that they would do this for The Fall. After all, they had already included the group among their “Omnibus” editions and also in their “5 Albums” series. There was precedent: in 2015, The Arkive took over the LP pressings of  “The Wonderful And Frightening World...” and “This Nation's Saving Grace” again, having previously licensed these to Vinyl 180. Each was appended with an accompanying second LP which pulled together the singles and b-sides from around each of those albums: “The Wonderful And Frightening Escape Route To...” and “Schtick: Yarbles Revisited” respectively. A few copies of these were made available separately too, just in case they were accused of double dipping. Fair play.

In August and then October 2018, two further vinyl-only reissues were added – a respectful enough distance. First up was a new pressing of  the “458489” A-Sides collection. White vinyl was used to match the artwork and new inner sleeve was designed but, given that this was quite a long LP to start with at 17 tracks, it was a shame that the opportunity wasn't taken to press it onto two discs and use the full length “Cruiser's Creek”. This was followed by a 30th anniversary reissue of  “I Am Kurious, Oranj” on, inevitably, orange vinyl with the original gatefold sleeve restored as well as a reproduction of the programme for the Edinburgh Festival run of the ballet from 1988. However, the versions of  some tracks match to the longer takes on the original cassette and CD editions rather than the original vinyl and a small audio clip from the show that featured on the 1988 first press LP fell by the wayside too. Whilst the programme added value, the decisions regarding the audio made it feel like a “collector's item” rather than a proper reissue of the original vinyl.

The new edition of “IAKO” brought renewed requests for film of the ballet to be released. Over the last decade or so, it has become apparent that there was more footage captured than was thought at the time but that this is either in an antiquated format (Ellen Van Schuylenburch has this, it seems) or has been lost/wiped (the BBC). It seems likely that this simply isn't coming – even if Van Schuylenburch does have a full shoot, the condition of the tapes after 30+ years would be an issue, as would the cost of making any kind of transfer and restoration. The likelihood is that the cost involved simply couldn't be recouped for such a niche item. As frustrating as it might be, as with the “Hey Luciani” play, this one has evaded capture. Still, all is impermanence.

However, in 2019, the real boo arrived. The remastered and expanded reissue of “Bend Sinister” finally (FINALLY!) emerged, the gap in the Beggars Banquet years filled at last with the first new edition of the group's divisive 1986 album since....well, since 1986. This is actually quite astonishing given how regularly many of their albums have been retooled but all credit to Arkive; for one thing they can't be accused of flooding the market and for another, when they did the job, they did it right. Whilst there were a few exhales at the price (£22.99 felt like a lot for a double CD but was, I suppose, a relative bargain for the 2LP set), the results were an absolute joy and this is – in fairness to everyone – the only release since Smith's death that has told us anything we didn't already know about The Fall.

All that trolling, snidey waffle about the album being mastered either too slow or entirely from cassettes was killed off once and for all. The layer of fog lifted from the album in the remastering process demonstrates that the group were not necessarily playing at concert pitch in every session and that only 2 of the album's songs came from Smith's fabled wonky Maxell; we had already guessed “Riddler!” was one of them due to the audible wobble and hiss at the end of the track but it turned out the other was “Terry Waite Sez”. We were partly compensated for the latter with an alternate, slightly longer mix taken from a studio master but your bottom line here is that “Bend Sinister” had never sounded better and the album's long shadow was finally cast off. It turned out that the relative griminess wasn't actually a core part of the album's sound (unlike, say, “Dragnet”) and letting the light into “BS” was a relief as well as a thrill. The second disc collected the group’s 1986 singles and their flipsides (every one of them absolutely first class) as well as their Peel Session from that year and a few alternate takes for the faithful, the best of which was an early stab at “Entitled” which crackles with raw energy. Oh, and the previously cassette-only “Town And Country Hobgoblins”, now with both channels audible. 

OK, it took a looooong time but the Beggars Banquet years have now been perfectly preserved; the Omnibus editions of “TWAFW...” and “TNSG”, the 2CD “BS” and the “5 Albums” set give us great sounding versions of all the released material as well as an array of contemporaneous outtakes and live tracks to expand and round out our view of what remains, for some, a controversial era of The Fall's tenure but is, for most, one of their most persistently rewarding periods.

In Part 2: we'll have a good look over the hefty contribution the Cherry Red label has made to keeping The Fall’s work on the shelves.

#thefall #the fall #bend sinister #mark e smith #beggars banquet

[ask-the-tnsg]

Hey! Uh, America here. Nice to meet’cha!

Welcome to the official blog for the Trans Nation Support Group, handled by yours truly ;P

Uh, now, you may wonder ‘Hey America, what’s the Trans Nation Support Group?’

Well, the TNSG is, as the name suggests, a group for us trans nations to get together and, uh, be trans I guess? It’s... it’s kinda hard to explain.

A-ah, anyways... a-ask us questions and stuff... yeah...

Uh, America out!

[askbox: open]

((Hey, mun here! I just want to make some things clear

These are all my own interpretions of the characters. If there’s something about them that don’t match up with your view of the characters; too bad. You sent me shit about it, I will ignore you. Congrats for waisting your time.

There will be ships. If you dont ship what I ship then feel free to leave if it makes you uncomfortable, or stay if you dont mind it. It’s up to you.

This is a hate-free environment. You hate and you will get blocked. You hate anonymously, you’re a coward. Congrats.

It might take a while for me to answer questions. I am a master procrastinator, even with things I like.

I might not be able to look into the future, but I have a feeling some triggering things (i.e eating disorders, self harm) might come up on the blog. I’ll try to warn you when it’ll happen, but I can’t make any promises

Feel free to sent in suggestions for more trans characters!! I already have quite the list (some will be in the TNSG from the beginning, some will come later) but I’d love to hear your own headcanons!!

Anyways, this is my first time doing something like this, so bare with me. I think that’s about it for now. Mun out!))

#transtalia #aph america #askblog #hetalia #NB america #nonbinary #mun talks #also sorry for the absolutely horrible picture quality #tumblr is being an ass

[gainsborostudio]

[environmentguru]

Notice of Proposal to Issue Air Quality Control Operating Permit to TDX North Slope Generating, Inc., TNSG South Power Plant

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (ADEC) proposes to issue Air Quality Control Operating Permit No. AQ1401TVP01 to TDX North Slope Generating, Inc. TNSG South Power Plant, under Alaska Statutes 46.14 and regulations 18 AAC 50. Appli http://www.environmentguru.com/pages/bids/opportunity.aspx?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=tumblr&id=4524789

#air quality

[pienaud]

Feb 24th 2024

Today is full moon in Virgo

I am totally and absolutely got all of the energy from the Moon

I am doing well

I am amazing

I am happy

I am gorgeous

I am grateful

I am rich

… and richer

I am

I am successful

I am peace

I love, be loved and in love

I am pretty

I am fulfill

I am the one and only

I am the best version of myself

I love all of thing about my mental health, they are all in positive and the best

I love my life

I live my life

I make my life

I love my dream

I live my dream

I make my dream

… my American dream, my Taiwan dream, all of my dreams

I love myself

I love my body, my body is fit and thin and beautiful

I love my face, my face is Vline and smooth and shiny

I love my hair, my hair is smooth and strong and glossy

I love my teeth, my teeth is clean and white and shiny

I love all of thing about my physical me, they are all wonderful and perfect

I did not give up

I tried hard, worked hard, played hard

I am abundance for all the money and successful

I am worthy for all of the best things what are coming to me

Opportunies are coming to me absolutely

Difficulties are working out easily for me

Everythings are happening to me for a reason, they are all smoothly and come to a good result

My visa application to Taiwan was confirmed immediately and absolutely

I met Charlie in Taiwan

I had a memorable and great time in Taiwan with Charlie

Me and Charlie, we hang out and had dates together

We had local breakfast, had some coffee drinks, night dates at restaurant or bar or just a little food shop. It all was so much fun and happiness and … something was grow in our heart, i am sure

Charlie took me to the best and hidden place in Taiwan, i love it

We think about each other, we feel about each other, we mean something about each other

Something cant say, something speechless, something in heart

Cant wait to meet yu again, Charlie!

I had the best trip in Thailand and Korea, joyfullllll

My family are healthy and happy and go well together

My parents’s business is working amazing

My dad loves Iphone 15 promax i bought him

My older sister does kindly and nicely and comfortablely to me

My younger sister does well in her study and helps my parents a lot

Charlie is doing good in his work at IT company, Charlie is healthy and his family too, Charlie is happiness and joyful in life

Charlie is thinking about me, Charlie Charlie Charlie i am thinking about yu, miss yu.

Today is full moon in Virgo

Thank yu to the Universe and Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides

Thank yu to the Universe and Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides

Thank yu to the Universe and Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides

Thank yu to the Universe and Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides

Thank yu to the Universe and Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides

Thank yu to thw Universe and Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides

Thank yu to the Universe and Guardian Angels and Spirit Guides

Thank yu to full moon in Virgo

Thank yu to full moon in Virgo

Thank yu to full moon in Virgo

Thank yu to full moon in Virgo

Thank yu to full moon in Virgo

Thank yu to full moon in Virgo

Thank yu to full moon in Virgo

Thank yu!

Feb 24th 2024,

Chau Ngoc Phuong Ngan

Ngan Chau

Audrey

#full moon #virgo #feb24 #2024 #cwac #tnsg #manifesting #manifesation

[pienaud]

Nov 14 2023

i want to come, i will probably come to Taiwan again, i promise. But i really and truly want to be there, now .

yu know..

it is hard to leave when absolutely nothing’s clear, so i have to make something have something

audrey

#cwac #tnsg

[pienaud]

Nov 2nd 2023

today i miss yu, charlie

audrey.

#cwac #tnsg

[pienaud]

Jun 8, 2023

we had a lunch date

yu seems hesitate when driving my motorbike

but anw yu did…on a road only a few hundred meters long lol

the feeling kinda not like first time

somehow somewhat we are not like first time

…

i had lots of thoughts after this time

i can not focus

i can not control

i think about it, i think about yu

i think about this date

#tnsg #cwac #yudrunkudrunk

[pienaud]

Jun 6, 2023

… calling - missed call

- find me

1

2

3

i got yu

… calling - missed call

step to, we just look at each other n wonder, surpriseee lol

then things went like that

…

1 round, 2 round, cheers

1 red face, 1 confused words, we said we did not drunk

1 hate smoke, 1 smoking

1 yellow noodle + beef + pork broth + fried onion, 1 just pork soup no fried onion

1 too spicy, 1 not spicy

1 local people, 1 not local people, who??

1 slippers, 1 high heels

night walk on the street

goodbye hug

…

吴松侪,

你好

nice to meet yu, really!

em tin mình đã cho nhau một kỷ niệm

Ngân Châu,

#tnsg #cwac #yudrunkudrunk

[pienaud]

May 23, 2023

- Hiyaa libra from a libra

- Heyyyy

…

#tnsg

[hippriestess]

Part 4 - I’ve Been Duped...

It was to be expected that some of those who brought us some of the less essential Fall releases would also respond to Smith's death. One of worst was the first to arrive and it came from perennial recyclers Secret Records; a repackaging of 10 live tracks from the 2002 “A Touch Sensitive” DVD – already reconfigured multiple times – on an LP titled, and this absolutely beggars belief, “Best Of” and credited to “The Fall & Mark E Smith”, a credit never once used on a release in Smith's lifetime (a few gig posters, yes but never a record). Released just 3 months after Smith's death for about £18-20, this received the derision it deserved and, judging from the number of copies for sale on Discogs and their current asking prices, it appears to have sold just a little more than fuck all.

But even this was overshadowed come March 2019 when Ozit/Dandelion released what has to be The Worst Fall Release Ever. Pressed into horrid orange vinyl, the contents of “Mark's Personal Holiday Tony Tapes” were staggeringly poor. Proudly labelled as “Non-Record-Store-Day Release” (was it turned down?) the record boasted just 8 tracks. The album tried to elide its rotten contents by calling all the tracks “Mark's Personal Holiday Tony Tapes”. Track 1 was a 6 minute version of “Last Nacht” from “I Am Kurious Oranj”. The released track doesn't actually feature within the 6 minutes so this is probably an outtake and therefore probably not owned by Beggars Banquet. There is a drop out lasting several seconds that has gone uncorrected and it's about 4 minutes longer than it needs to be, confirming the brevity of the version used in 1988 to be bob on. Tracks 2, 4, 6 and 8 are live tracks from 1981, all of which had already been released on the otherwise unimpressive “Northern Cream” DVD. What is barely credible is that tracks 3, 5 and 7 are also “Last Nacht” but not further alternates, rather being Track 1 cut into 2 minute pieces and simply repeated! Did they think we wouldn't notice?! Utterly awful, thoroughly exploitative and an absolute disgrace. They also stumped up a 30 minute DVD of MES being interviewed. This bore the thoroughly unappealing title “30 Minutes On A Manchester Slag Heap”. I only ever saw this for sale on eBay but a couple of clicks confirmed that it was Ozit/Dandelion product being sold by them through that channel. The cover was of a slag heap rather than of MES. Enough said.

OK, let's tidy up, what's next?

The immediate future sees 2 vinyl releases in the August “drop” of the now-staggered, socially-distanced RSD2020; a double LP of “[Austurbæjarbíó] - Reykjavík Live 1983” on the now inevitable splatter vinyl and a single LP of  “Cerebral Caustic” on multi-coloured “bonkers” (their word, absofuckinglutely not mine) splatter vinyl because of course it is. That's all for RSD this year, a move which represents far better judgement by the organisers. A studio album out of print on vinyl for 25 years and a properly sought after live release on the format for the first time? Yeah, that fits well with what RSD was meant to be back when we all queued up for a “Bury Pts 2 + 4” 7” in 2010.

Now, a fun wee question mark was raised over “CC” when the RSD website credited the release to Demon rather than Cherry Red. It appears Demon have the Permanent Records catalogue and have also announced clear vinyl reissues of “The Infotainment Scan”, “Middle Class Revolt”, “The Twenty-Seven Points” and, perhaps most interestingly, “The Post Nearly Man”, all on clear vinyl with expanded artwork from Pascal LeGras. It looks as though these are coming in under the £20 mark (£25 for T27P) and I reckon they'll be popular – I fancy nabbing MCR and TPNM myself. A bit of a downer that all of these, except, oddly, “The Post Nearly Man” were recently rescheduled from September 2020 to January 2021 but hey ho – probably Covid-related, much like everything else.

As for Cherry Red, whilst one report had it that “Are You Are Missing Winner” was next, they are finally releasing a 3CD/2LP edition of “Imperial Wax Solvent” in October. This includes the much-discussed original mix by Grant Showbiz and a previously unavailable live set from shortly after the album's original release. This is, basically, exactly what we wanted. Hurrah! Can't wait.

Thanks to the speculation re: AYAMW, there was a little disappointment in come quarters and I can certainly see a healthy audience for a straight single LP pressing of that as it was only ever available on a picture disc vinyl before. Here's hoping they won't go for a double splatter vinyl with unnecessary extras (“Where's The Fuckin' Taxi? Cunt” on vinyl? Come on, SPARE US).  

To yr present authors surprise, an expanded edition of “The Frenz Experiment” was announced for release by Beggars Banquet/Arkive in October. I had reckoned a new vinyl edition was likely as it was the only studio album on BB not yet afforded a new pressing and the addition of a second LP with various singles tracks was no surprise either, given that there are similar packages available for “TWAFW”, “TNSG” and “Bend Sinister”. A very pleasant surprise however is the inclusion of the group's Janice Long session from 1987, their only unreleased Radio 1 session. Also, “A Day In The Life” has been licenced for the this also (it was the only studio recording from the era missing from “5 Albums”). The Long session and “...Life” are only on the CD version. As such, this release very much follows the pattern of the “Bend Sinister” reissue from 2018 and is likely inspired by the near ecstatic reception and healthy sales that release enjoyed. Nice that the CD edition is £12 this time, having been more like £22 for “Bend Sinister”.

Let Them Eat Vinyl are responsible for the illustration...they are planning an almost ludicrous onslaught of Fall vinyl. Their website currently lists an almost unbelievable THIRTY ONE Fall LP releases for the three months running September to November. Thirty-one. Now – this includes “Interim” which is already on the shelves but it also includes the “Live From The Vaults” releases. It was assumed from the inclusion of two of these on Cherry Red's “Dragnet” 3CD box that these were part of the Fall Sound Archive deal that MES cut with CR in the years before his death which makes this a bit interesting. Also, LTEV are also claiming they will release “The Post-Nearly Man” on vinyl in October, which clashes with Demon's schedule – they originally had Smith and The Fall's albums for Permanent Records releases slated for reissue in September but all except TPNM have been moved. Meanwhile, “Cog Sinister” are about to release TPNM on CD! After being unavailable and highly prized for 2 decades, we're now set for 3 separate reissues within 2 months!  Anyway, the vast majority of the remaining LTEV are discs from the 2 “sets of ten (really eleven)” although also included are the excellent “I Am Pure As Oranj” and the first vinyl edition of “The Light User Syndrome” since its original release in 1996. Caveat Emptor, as the saying goes.

Narnack are also hinting that a 3LP “Fall Heads Roll” isn't too far off. Having teased this for a couple of years, Early in 2020, it was announced that the label was folding. This announcement was deleted and Narnack immediately moved on to asking fans to suggest what additional material could be added to this new version. Never one of their best, there would have to be some impressive outtakes to persuade yr persent scribe to cough up.  

Elsewhere, Phonogram have yet to succumb to new vinyl pressings of their albums, despite the prices fetched on the collectors market for these, especially “Code-Selfish”. This may be partly due to what seems to have been a relatively low take-up for their 6CD box set from 2017. Titled “The Fontana Years”, this was just the 2CD editions of the three albums from 2007 in a box. It therefore looked weak next to the “Singles 1978-2016” box set as well as providing nothing attractive to the faithful who already had them. It hit the shelves at £35-40 a time and, unsurprisingly, remained there and can now be scored for around £20.

The much requested expansion of “The Real New Fall LP” with the original, very different mix of the album has yet to appear. At last count, contractual wrangles between the UK and US were said to be in the way but who knows? If “Levitate” can reappear, surely this can too.

Of course, we never know what else the less-salubrious end of the market will have for us but we shall approach with due caution.

The cold reality: what we get now is all there is. Mark E Smith now exists for Fall fans on paper, on magnetic tape, on vinyl and in combinations of 0 and 1. A sad fact. But it is clear that the appetite for The Fall is, if anything, increasing. Hindsight is presenting The Fall in a particularly clear light. In such a stylised, filtered and carefully marketed world, full of covert strategies and manipulative messaging, The Fall are reassuringly flawed, human, real. Their jagged edges, their constant state of flux, their DIY presentation and their disinterest in convention draws in the curious. The quantity of music suits an insatiable, want-it-all-and-now culture and, having made their albums for the vinyl format as well as bringing us so many magnificent 3-4 minute singles, their music is almost perfectly suited to today's market place where vinyl albums mix with song-by-song streams. People who love to write about music always loved The Fall and it seems that this is every bit as true today as it was in the days when we never had to wait any more than a few months for a missive of some sort, be it an album, a single, a Peel session or even just an entertaining interview.

Given that The Beatles – the most lauded rock/pop act of all time - have finally reached a generation to whom their blithe optimism means absolutely nothing, it is impossible to say how anything in music will be regarded 20 years from now. But for now, at least, The Fall endure. Their vibrations remain intense and powerful. And we, the people, dance to the waves.

Nine out of ten? Nah. Ten out of ten. Top marks. 

#mark e smith #the fall #long live the fall