The Fall were an English post-punk band, formed in Manchester in 1976. The band existed until 2018 and was essentially built around its founder and only constant member Mark E. Smith. Initially associated with the punk movement of the late 1970s, the group's music went through several stylistic changes over the years, but is often characterised by an abrasive guitar- driven sound and frequent use of repetition, and is always underpinned by Smith's distinctive vocals and often cryptic lyrics.
The band is noted for its prolific output and released 31 studio albums (more than triple that counting live albums and other releases). They never achieved widespread public success beyond a handful of minor hit singles in the late 1980s, but maintained a strong cult following. The band were long associated with BBC disc jockey John Peel, who championed them from early on in their career and cited The Fall as his favourite band, famously explaining, “They are always different; they are always the same.”
Imperial Wax Solvent was the group’s 26th album, originally released in 2008. Following the departure of the American musicians who contributed to Reformation Post-TLC, the new British based line-up was to become the band’s last and longest serving incarnation. Alongside Mark E. Smith was Elena Poulou (keyboards, vocals), Dave Spurr (bass), Pete Greenway (guitar) and Keiron Melling (drums). It was well received by critics and entered the UK Album Charts at #35.