The Fakes - Black Apple

  A big thanks to Lancaster gig promoter (and old school chum) Mark Simpson for alerting me to the song I'm posting today...

  I can't say I heard them at the time but Stirling band The Fakes (https://www.facebook.com/arenoreal/) formed back in the 70's and released a 1979 ep on Deep Cut Records titled Production. I checked the title track out on Youtube and it's a spacious, post punk tale about factory life which as someone who worked in such a place I can definitely empathise with https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0sm86jQIUU . They then disbanded after drummer Brian Kemp was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident.

  Fast forward 40 years and they've got back together. The 2020 incarnation features original members Johnny McGuire (vocals) and Jimmy McEgg (bass) plus new recruits William Baird (guitar) and Lee McPhail (drums). They've just released ep number 2, it's titled Black Apple and it features a couple of new songs and a reworking of the first record's Wallpaper. It's available on Newtown Products (http://www.newtownproducts.com/) on 7" vinyl (ltd to 500 copies) and as a digital download :   https://thefakes1.bandcamp.com/releases   A debut album will follow later this year.

    The new ep is very good, it still merits a post punk tag but the production is very definitely a step up. Wallpaper is a jaunty sub one minute description of the paper that hangs on walls! Ootsider reminds me somewhat of Production in that it's a matter of fact account of humdrum, anonymous lives (Every day is the same...no money, no home, nobody that cares...noboby knows when you're not there). The title track begins with a sampling of Donald Trump before exploding into a wall of bass with lyrics calling for a party as we line them up against the wall. It was definitely worth them getting back together for.

  This is Black Apple...

We’re gonna have a party
We’re gonna have a ball
We’re gonna be dancin’ and singin’
When we watch the last one fall
They’re all gonna go
Up against the wall
Up against the wall

We know that day is comin’
We’re waitin for the call
We’re gonna be dancin’ and singin’
When we watch the last one fall
They’re all gonna go
Up against the wall
Up against the wall

We’re gonna have a party
We’re gonna have a ball
We’re gonna be dancin’ and singin’
When we watch the last one fall
They’re all gonna go
Up against the wall
Up against the wall

We don’t know when it’s comin’
We’re waitin for the call
Pass the ammunition
And we’ll watch the last one fall
They’re all gonna go
Up against the wall
Up against the wall