The Wonderful and Frightening World of… The Fall

Released in 1984, The Wonderful and Frightening World of The Fall captures the band at a point where their jagged post-punk attack met more melodic and textural experimentation. Mark E. Smith's caustic, spoken-sung vocals ride over taut, repetitive guitar figures and a propulsive rhythm section, while keyboards and subtle electronic touches add leftfield and new wave inflections. The record is notable for consolidating The Fall's abrasive, literate aesthetic into a tighter, more varied set of songs that balance rawness with occasional melodic or atmospheric flourishes.