Code : Selfish Formed in 1976, by 1990, The Fall had been through 18 lineups, releasing 14 albums and 24 singles. The only constant was leader and vocalist Mark Edward Smith, who was welded to a strong work ethic, creating music that stunned with its obscure brilliance. The band consistently railed against mediocrity and flailed against the status quo.
When The Fall signed to Fontana, guitarist Martin Bramah, who had originally founded the group with Smith, returned, replacing Smith’s ex-wife Brix, who had been part of the group since 1983. Despite the change, there were few accusations of selling out; it was seen as part of an evolutionary process. The three Fontana albums – “Extricate,” “Shift-Work,” and “Code: Selfish” – were stunningly consistent.
In 1992, “Code: Selfish” introduced Dave Bush on keyboards, bringing a harder, techno-edge to the group’s work. While less focused than its predecessors, the album gradually reveals its considerable charms. The initially impenetrable seven-minute opener, “The Birmingham School of Business School,” gives way to the Top 40 commercialism of “Free Range.” The album balances the glam stomp of “Immortality” and “Two-Face!” with the wistful introspection of “Time Enough At Last” and “Gentleman’s Agreement.”
