Levitate (album)

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


Released = 29 September 1997
Recorded = ???
Genre = Rock
Length = 49:35
Label = Artful Records
Producer = Mark E. Smith
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:cneq97e0krgt link]
*"NME" (8/10) [http://www.visi.com/fall/news/pics/97oct11_nme-levitate.gif11th October 1997]

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Last album = "The Light User Syndrome" (1996)
This album = "Levitate" (1997)
Next album = "The Marshall Suite" (1999)

"Levitate" is an album by The Fall, released in 1997 on Artful Records. The first edition came with an additional 5 song disc of outtakes and alternate mixes spanning the group's career. A single, "Masquerade", was culled from the album in February 1998 to coincide with Mark E. Smith receiving the Godlike Genius award at the "NME" Awards [ [http://www.visi.com/fall/news/980222.html#nme FallNews - all mud and witches ] ] and reached number 59 in the UK charts. The album is out of print as Artful went bankrupt in the early part of 2000.

"Levitate" received mixed press. Brix Smith had quit the band during their 1996 tour and longtime drummer Simon Wolstencroft left before recording was complete. Julia Nagle's electronics are to the fore throughout and she co-writes 6 of the album's 14 tracks. The album was followed by a shambolic tour, Smith sacking the whole band in Ireland, although they were re-instated within days. [ [http://www.visi.com/fall/news/971110.html FallNews ] ] It was during the US tour for this album that the group finally fell apart, leaving Smith with only Nagle's support in rebuilding the group for their next album "The Marshall Suite".

Track listing

#"Ten Houses of Eve" (Smith/Nagle)
#"Masquerade" (Smith/Nagle)
#"Hurricane Edward" (Smith/Nagle)
#"I'm a Mummy" (listed as "unknown" on inner sleeve - originally by Bob McFadden & Dor and called "The Mummy")
#"The Quartet of Doc Shanley" (Smith/Hanley)
#"Jap Kid" (Nagle)
#"4 1/2 Inch" (Smith/Hanley)
#"Spencer Must Die" (Smith/Spencer)
#"Jungle Rock" (Hank Mizell)
#"Ol' Gang" (Smith/Wolstencroft/Hanley)
#"Tragic Days" (Smith/Bramah)
#"I Come and Stand At Your Door" (listed as "Anon/Nagle", this is an interpretation of the song "I Come and Stand At Every Door", based on a poem by Nazım Hikmet and a traditional tune, previously performed both by Pete Seeger and by The Byrds. "Jap Kid" is an instrumental version of this track.)
#"Levitate" (Smith/Nagle)
#"Everybody But Myself" (Smith/Wolstencroft)

*Limited edition bonus disc
#"Powderkex" (Smith/Burns) - a remix of "Powder Keg" from "The Light User Syndrome"
#"Christmastide" (Smith/Wolstencroft/Scanlon) - a remix of 1990 b-side "Xmas With Simon"
#"Recipe For Fascism" (Smith)
#"Pilsner Trail" (Smith/Hanley) - from 1983, outtake from "Perverted By Language"
#"Everybody But Myself" (Live) (Smith/Wolstencroft)

Personnel

*Mark E. Smith - vocals, keyboards
*Steve Hanley -bass guitar
*Simon Wolstencroft - drums
*Julia Nagle - keyboards, guitar, programming, arranging
*Karl Burns - drums
*Andy Hackett - guitar
*Tommy Crooks - guitar

References