A 4 star review by Stewart Lee in the Times 2 August 2009:

The Fall: Last Night at the Palais: Live at the Hammersmith Palais, April 1, 2007

What did the elderly stage-invader demanding cheap sentiment, captured on an accompanying DVD, expect from Mark E Smith, the only 1976 survivor with his dignity, if not his teeth, intact? The Fall weren’t about to turn the Palais wake into a punk nostalgia fest, were they? Instead, here’s the relentless forward motion of a superb, and sadly short-lived, seven-piece Fall, staffed by awesome young Americans, press-ganged when their predecessors mutinied in the Mojave, and unashamed to rock out, dude. Tim Presley’s psychedelic licks grate dramatically against Elena Poulou’s cold krautrock keyboards and Smith’s starving whippet yowl. Pile-driving, road-honed readings of the 2006/7 set surpass their official versions. Your palaces crumble. Yet the Fall remain.

Not online yet, but there's also a review in the DVD section of this week's London Timeout.

The Fall: Last Night at the Palais *** (out of 5)
Music - Cert: Exempt (£11.99)

It's ironic that the band least likely to make a song and dance about the closure of a legendary London venue was the band scheduled to play there on its very last night. This is a document (with audio CD) of the evening of January 21 2007*, which saw The Fall run through their compelling, motorik-punk paces in a 12-track set. With a perversity typical of Mark E Smith - who looks more like a disgruntled Shar-Pei with every passing year - it consisted mainly of (then) recent and forthcoming numbers. The cameraman was clearly besotted by keyboardist - and Smith's missus - Elena Poulou, but not everyone was thrilled. After the encore, a bloke leaped on stage to rail against the gig's lack of occasion. A stranger to the wonderful and frightening world of The Fall, one can only presume.
- Sharon O' Connell

Extras: Promo Video

(* Should read April 1 2007)

I wonder why he was besotted by the keyboard player

One of those useless non-reviews. Ms. O'Connell has nothing cogent to say whatsoever. I wonder whether she even listened to the CD.

Also, why is it "perverse" to perform mostly fresh material?

my favourite bit is the sign that keeps flashing up on screen that reads; 'the fall live', just in case anyone's forgotten what they're watching.

Yes, and the bit at the end where Mark name-checks all the band and they all do a little solo. :)

and just when you think it's all over they all come back on stage together and take a bow...

I can't wait for this. I wee myself a little every time I think about it...

...and thank the crowd for being such a great audience.

as bouquets of flowers cascade onto the stage...

...and the crowd wept...

so mes goes; 'alright, alright. fangyewverymuch. we'll do a few more then - any requests?'

...and the crowd wept...

I was going to do that one. :lol:

Just imagine if the camera had lingered on Mark's crotch.... :lol:

Might pick this up if I see it going cheap.

Couldn't see another mention here, but Mark Fisher's not impressed in The Wire's review.

EDIT: Oh, OK, it was here http://z1.invisionfree.com/forums/thefall/...ic=14566&st=100

What on earth does that mean? Is it a quotation?

Is this actually in shops yet?

@ action records cd/dvd 9.99

Amazon have it at £8.98 for pre order, with a release date of 24.8.

4 star review in MOJO.

They have it in stock now, mine arrived this morning. It's tremendous.

On edit: Sorry, misread that. ACTION RECORDS have it now.

It is now. :rolleyes:

My "palace" fortunately hasn't "crumbled", but I wouldn't want to read that if I was a Fall fan who'd just lost their job or home in this shagged out New Labour-induced/authorised recession.

I wish reviewers wold use their allocated wordcount to describe the bloody item, and not try and sound like Mark E Smith.

If you're blaming the recession on New Labour, can you explain how they managed to cause one in all those other countries?

Palais closing = a palace crumbling

But The Fall continue...

Oh, thanks..I see. I'd still rather whoever it is reviewed it properly; some of us haven't got or seen it yet :( Is he the same bloke that used to do Never Mind the Buzzcocks?

I'm off now to listen to In Palais of Swords Reversed before it doesn't crumble.

About to watch it now :)

Good sound on cd (a little "splashy" but that might be the 2 bass players) and proof, if it were needed, that The Fall sound much better with a two guitar line-up. Not watched the DVD yet.

Well I have to apologise to the reviewer man and admit I can't (be arsed to) review properly either, but these discs are brilliant, containing an excellent Fall concert. Nice sleevenotes and pictures too, and a bargain. Very happy here :) :cry2:

I saw the gig and I hope the DVD includes the entirety of Ted Chippington's support act.

Brilliant. A great memento of a great night and well worth the wait.
Captures the menace at the end with the silly security guards, and a reminder of some good bits I'd forgotten about (Eleni's The Wright Stuff a gem).

Ta to everyone who got it together to release it even though it seemed like it would never appear.

New album...?

It's excellent, but do we really need to be reminded we're watching The Fall live between each song? :lol:

Fantastic DVD! Great picture and sound quality!

Best artwork EVER! :applaud: :applaud: :applaud:

I really like the Reformation promo. The group, and especially Smith and Poulou look great. Maybe I'm insane, but I could watch it a ton of times.

Here's a joke:

Man 1: "Call me crazy. Call me insane. Call me what you want!"

Man 2: "Fat twat!"

(off topic) :)

BTW The artwork is beyond great, the photos in particular!

I don't mind that so much, but the voice saying it between the songs on the cd gets annoying...

No, not really.

Anyway, an excellent release. I'd never seen the yanks live but this expanded line-up sounds great. Rob Barbato comes across as very charismatic and unshaken by Mark's taunts. The sound is good but the mix seems a bit odd in places, nothing problematic though. To my surprise, some of the songs I'm more lukewarm about (The Wright Stuff, My Door is Never, Over Over) come across better than my favourite ones (Fall Sound, Pacifying Joint). This, along with the fact it documents a particularly unusual line-up, makes up for the fact that the concert lacks the superior IWS material. I hadn't heard their version of Hungry Freaks, Daddy before, and that was a bit of a revelation, a quite inspired approach to ignore the changes. Blindness is the highlight by far, a very dynamic version. The closing Reformation sounds great, what a pity it was curtailed.

I initially looked on the cd as an unnecessary extra but I was glad of it, it sounds great and really works as an album. I'd probably recommend this over Reformation Post TLC actually. And it's MILES better than the under-rehearsed and anaemic Touch Sensetive Live dvd, and of course the abominations that were the Access All Areas dvds.

Walked into Resident Records Brighton to have a look at this; as they were playing it at the time I thought it would be rude not to buy it.

I think I just spit out my Ovaltine. :o

;) :lol:

Highlight for me is Hungry Freaks, Daddy. Excellent version :applaud: