Due to lots of reasons i.e. shite gigs + craig & steve h leaving (who is incidentally a caretaker at the school at the back of me house), I lost the will to be bothered to follow the fall in circa 1997.

Of course I still listened to the gems every now and again, but had resigned myself to the fact: the well had run dry.

Anyways, fast forward to about a month ago..... I got the fall bug again to a small extent. I read the Simon Ford book and bought The Unutterable & Country on the Click. The latter is absolutely top class, probly the best fall I've heard since Extricate.

So have I missed out on much during my time out, was it all dross in the meantime, did I do the best thing by keeping my head down?

Please let me know.

Oh boy, this sounds like me except I dropped off in 1989 or so and am just now catching up.

Levitate and Marshall Suite are excellent in parts. Heavy technology and production, but some great work.

Are You Are Missing Winner is the opposite. I really like this one for its fuzzy, stripped down sound. I think it's killer but it is oft-reviled.

Gig wise.. it took them about four years to hit their stride again.

Record wise - I personally think what they've produced since the demise of the old band superior to that band's last few albums.. I do think they'd run out of steam. and last night's Peel session was better than quite a few of the 80s sessions.

lucky you, i would love to meet craig scanlon.

It's Steve Hanley who works at the school. I see him almost daily shifting bins around. He looks happy as a pig in shite!

I've chatted to him a couple of times in the local curry take away. He's pleased to be out of the hassles of the fall and his bro works in IT.

He saw me in wearing a cog sinister T-shirt a few years back and shouted "Oi, what the fuck are you wearin that for?"

I get my own back every now and again when I see him in the school playground and shout "Pay your rates!" out of the window.

The things you do.

thats right my bad. Hanley rocked, can you get him to sign some stuff for me, he wwas great.

Aye, never thought of that, getting things signed. He's seems like a very pleasant fella. He'd be bored signing all the rubbish I've got though!

If you really want me to, I'll give it a bash.

Top man on the bass. Probly me all time hero.

You got that straight!!!

yes please do, that would be most excellent.

Birthday Song was good. So was Mod Mock Goth. MES has a new t-shirt with various playing cards printed on it. We all still miss S. Hanley.

he had that last year....he must use good washing powder

i never saw it when he was in america.