The Aphid
Fall · Other Songs - Fall
Six times [...]
Six, four
Form [...] the and six
Form a boxline
The aphid
The aphid
Bend down
Scratch around the carpet for insect
Get hook clamp
Stand up
Gel frame
Put insect in a jar
The aphid
Walk back two, three and four
Stop for a rest
Go back to scratch
The aphid
Hook clamp
Go back down
Scratch around the floor
Take hook clamp and put in jar
The aphid
Cover up with gel frame
Take two times four o o o one
UV gun back
Go back to the floor
Scratch around
Five, six supplied
The aphid
Then right back
Form a boxline, sidecar
The aphid
Twenty times steps back
[...]
Get hook clamp
Turn to barn door
Retrieve kill frame
(Absolutely wonderful)
[Spoken, (not MES)]:
"Take six [...] and six back, stand up straight, then bend down and
scratch the carpet for insects and, if you find any, put the insects
into the jar, than
check the clamp on the jar and take six steps back. Ensure the hook
clamp is on the jar and that's the aphid."
[ The insect theme is common with the Fall. Other songs with insect
references are Bug Day, Mollusc in Tyrol and Squid Law.]
The Aphid
The Aphid stands as a distinctive song in the eclectic discography of Fall, the Manchester-based band renowned for their relentless experimentation and post-punk energy. Mark E. Smith's leadership drove the group through countless stylistic shifts, often blending jagged rhythms with surreal lyrical themes. This recording captures the band's signature approach to songwriting, where mundane subjects are elevated through sharp delivery and unconventional arrangements. While the track may not carry the immediate weight of their most celebrated anthems, it reflects the consistent creative output that defined their long career. Listeners familiar with the band's extensive catalogue will recognize the characteristic tension and idiosyncratic phrasing that make Fall's work so compelling across decades of releases.