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joerichards90's review
5.0
There exists a theory that the first Fall album you hear eventually becomes your favourite. Hex was my rite of passage and, whilst it didn't connect immediately, the theory eventually gained validation. (My rediscovery coincidentally transpired during a trip to Iceland; I was totally unaware of the significance of the country's role in the creation of the album, so I suspect some sort of northern witchcraft was almost certainly at work).
As a fan who by this point "understood" the blueprint of The Fall, I was able to revisit the record with much more open ears. As a musician, however, the record's compositional qualities (still unique even for the group themselves) captured my attention as they hadn't before. The vast, cavernous improvisation, the consistent use of deliberately obscured timing, the repetition, the post-production experimentalism... it all felt so purposeful and clear-sighted, even in comparison to other Fall records. Whilst the lyrical subject matter certainly interested but generally eluded me, the sheer quality, otherworldly nature and mystical production of the music kept drawing me back. My obsession peaked as Paul Hanley's book on the record was announced.
It doesn't disappoint. The author/drummer humbly (but rightfully) acknowledges the record's deserving need for further insight; there are no boundaries to cross as the reader and writer feel bound to the work in tandem. Hanley's unique position as both an excellent critical author and a member of the band makes his word very easy to accept, and his descriptions and accounts are peppered with fascinating footnotes, record-straightening anecdotes and some almost impossibly interesting musical and compositional insights.
He writes with a balanced sense of hindsight and authority; his own musical knowledge has clearly developed since 1982 and he assesses his past shortcomings without the need for ego-inflation. He doesn't dwell on nostalgia and avoids any trappings of hero-worship by instead reflecting critically and honestly on the processes behind the songwriting, the recording, the promotion, the reception and finally the historical impact of the album.
Many will hope for a complete lyrical deconstruction or an insight into the mind of MES. What becomes eminently clear is how thoroughly planned the album was - everything was intentional from the song order, the album length, the artwork and of course the layers upon layers of lyrical cross-referencing, story-telling and world-building. The lyrics are explored and contextualised in a manner which allows the reader to take a step back to admire the richness of the whole tapestry, and whilst there's plenty of insight, there is of course only one man who kept all of the answers.
The mystical qualities of the album remain not only intact after such a rigorous debriefing - they are indeed felt by Hanley himself, and as such his approach is adapted so as not to spoil the magic. Simultaneously, his assessment is thorough enough to reveal qualities much, much deeper than those that are immediately obvious, allowing at least my love of the album to grow exponentially over the past week of reading this book. Fantastic and highly recommended read for any fans.
As a fan who by this point "understood" the blueprint of The Fall, I was able to revisit the record with much more open ears. As a musician, however, the record's compositional qualities (still unique even for the group themselves) captured my attention as they hadn't before. The vast, cavernous improvisation, the consistent use of deliberately obscured timing, the repetition, the post-production experimentalism... it all felt so purposeful and clear-sighted, even in comparison to other Fall records. Whilst the lyrical subject matter certainly interested but generally eluded me, the sheer quality, otherworldly nature and mystical production of the music kept drawing me back. My obsession peaked as Paul Hanley's book on the record was announced.
It doesn't disappoint. The author/drummer humbly (but rightfully) acknowledges the record's deserving need for further insight; there are no boundaries to cross as the reader and writer feel bound to the work in tandem. Hanley's unique position as both an excellent critical author and a member of the band makes his word very easy to accept, and his descriptions and accounts are peppered with fascinating footnotes, record-straightening anecdotes and some almost impossibly interesting musical and compositional insights.
He writes with a balanced sense of hindsight and authority; his own musical knowledge has clearly developed since 1982 and he assesses his past shortcomings without the need for ego-inflation. He doesn't dwell on nostalgia and avoids any trappings of hero-worship by instead reflecting critically and honestly on the processes behind the songwriting, the recording, the promotion, the reception and finally the historical impact of the album.
Many will hope for a complete lyrical deconstruction or an insight into the mind of MES. What becomes eminently clear is how thoroughly planned the album was - everything was intentional from the song order, the album length, the artwork and of course the layers upon layers of lyrical cross-referencing, story-telling and world-building. The lyrics are explored and contextualised in a manner which allows the reader to take a step back to admire the richness of the whole tapestry, and whilst there's plenty of insight, there is of course only one man who kept all of the answers.
The mystical qualities of the album remain not only intact after such a rigorous debriefing - they are indeed felt by Hanley himself, and as such his approach is adapted so as not to spoil the magic. Simultaneously, his assessment is thorough enough to reveal qualities much, much deeper than those that are immediately obvious, allowing at least my love of the album to grow exponentially over the past week of reading this book. Fantastic and highly recommended read for any fans.
wasw's review
4.0
A must-read for fans of The Fall, and probably of general interest to anyone who enjoys reading a well-written narrative of the writing/recording of albums.
testpattern's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fucking great rock book. The kind of book about your favorite record that you want a book about your favorite record to be.
subtemple's review
5.0
Brilliant, loveable account of the most enigmatic record ever made written somehow both inside and outside The Fall. Best Fall book since The Big Midweek. Makes me want to go back to the album I'm always going back to, Hex Enduction Hour.
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