The Fall Cup: Stage 2, Groups M-N

                       

The panel must award a total of 78 points to the songs in these groups; no song may receive more than 20 points, and they must give points to at least 8 of the 12 songs. The top 4 go through to the last 64.

Group M is made up of the qualifiers from groups 25 and 26 in the first stage.

This was a particularly brutal group ('super tough', according to Eric), with some high quality songs inevitably going out. 

'No Bulbs' and 'Jawbone And The Air-Rifle' were the two most notable casualties. Both were undone by low/no scores from a judge who just couldn't find the points for them among such a strong field. With 'Jawbone', it was bzfgt ('I know it deserves more); with 'Bulbs' it was me, although I have to say I've always found it a perfectly decent song that's somewhat overrated.

'My New House' was particularly strongly supported by Lewis ('fascinating lyrics and typically Fall-like instrumentation that refuses to do what's expected') and myself; the others gave lower scores but had no particular criticism of the song. It was a similar story with 'Music Scene', with even Lewis - who found it 'a bit proggy' in the previous stage - enjoying the 'misbehaviour at the end.'

I've expressed disappointment at the exit of a few songs thus far, but I am particularly gutted that 'Proteinprotection' will not feature in the knock-out stages. I think it's brilliant: relentless, controlled, malevolent -  the ‘hey, wuh!’ just after the minute mark is worth the price of admission alone. A top ten (at least) Fall song for me, I may never forgive Lewis for his zero.

Further off the pace, we find 'Reformation!', which received high scores from Lewis and bzfgt but less regard from Eric ('little more than a thunderous riff') and Richard ('Blindness without the shimmy. Worked live, but isn't an essential Fall document'). The delicately melodic 'Janet, Johnny and James' found itself languishing near the foot of the table, despite a ten from bzfgt; Lewis had little time for its 'acoustic noodlings.'

Nearly everyone had something positive to say about 'Wolf Kidult Man', even if, in the case of bzfgt it was just the word, 'riff!' Richard described it as, 'a functional thump... though an effective one.' Eric thought it 'is a great latter-day puncher and shouter that produced some brilliant live versions.' I think it's appropriate to wave it goodbye with this particular one:

As for those progressing to the next stage, nobody will, I imagine, be surprised to see 'The N.W.R.A.', 'Tempo House' and 'New Face In Hell' go through to the last 64. The second place finish for 'Crop-Dust' was perhaps less predictable, especially as it appeared on the much-maligned Are You Are Missing Winner. Eric: 

How did they make this one song sound this way when almost everything else on that disc was drawn from the skuzz-bucket of half-baked leftover ideas? Even the production is fascinating on this one, with dubby drop-out bits and strange rearrangements of the sonic space atop that ominous repetitive bottom riff. Great stuff from the most unlikely of locales.

bzfgt had no doubts about its merits: 'Psychedelic masterwork, one of the greatest tracks of the century.'

Group N is made up of the qualifiers from groups 27 and 28 in the first stage.

As was the case with the previous group, three of the qualifiers - 'Smile', 'The Container Drivers' and 'Fiery Jack' - were odds-on big hitters who attracted sizeable scores across the board. The top spot, however, was claimed by 'Last Commands Of Xyralothep Via M.E.S.' It has, as Eric pointed out, 'a classic Fall song title', as well as 'Mark delivering one of his best vocal performances of the 21st Century.' Lewis considered it 'a thoroughly compelling three minute rollercoaster'; bzfgt was typically concise - 'sublime repetition.'

'Auto Chip 2014-2016' (which bzfgt also described as 'sublime repetition') was perhaps a little unlucky to go out. Richard was the architect of its downfall: 'I'm not sure why I don't love this as so many other people do: I like The Fall, I like Neu!, what am I missing?' 'Hard Life in Country' and 'Eat Y’self Fitter' were both contenders right up until the final vote was cast. 

Once again, I found myself chagrined by the lowly placing of a personal favourite, in this instance 'Midnight in Aspen', MES' touching tribute to Hunter S Thompson. Criminally, both Eric and Lewis ('another dreary acoustic number') gave it zero.

'The Quartet of Doc Shanley' and 'Touch Sensitive' both got zeros from bzfgt and Lewis. Eric thought that the former was 'an appealing piece of sonic garbage.' Richard was a little more disparaging: 'Steal a bassline, turn up the distortion, cut up some spoken nonsense, go down the pub.' Lewis' comment on 'Touch Sensitive' was 'Decent enough pop song, shame about the car.'

'Jim's "The Fall"' may be 'a cracking opener' (Lewis) but it was always going to struggle at this stage. 'Inessential. Not bad, but not memorable or special in any way,' was Eric's view. Richard: 'If Mudhoney were bewildered wasps at the end of the summer, they might make music like this.'

Despite Eric enjoying 'the spacious sonic field' of 'Auto Tech Pilot' - 'appealing and chilling in equal measure, like the group was playing in some abandoned warehouse in the winter, cold, miserable, frozen fingers giving it all a clunky, chunky, hesitant feel' - it finished in a distant last place.

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