Mining For Soul
Matthew Johnson spills all his fears, anger and occasional hopes over two faces of polyvinyl chloride (plus a bonus 12 inches of course). In October this year, Soul Mining will be forty years old, here is a brand new rip at 176.4kHz. I don't think that I will ever get this much loved album sounding any better.
Soul Mining by The The was, in my opinion, one of the finest pop albums of the early-mid 80's. Matt Johnson was very much a solo artist and occasionally played live in pubs and small clubs with just backing tapes. His debut LP, Burning Blue Soul on 4AD was very experimental and had a very limited audience at the time. He then sat down to write proper pop songs and roped in other musicians to add their elements to the The The sound.
Johnson was still effectively (just) a solo artist at the time of Soul Mining and my vague recollection of the history of its inception involves abandoned drug fueled recordings in 1982. However, with the help of others he managed to pull together one of the finest records of the generation. The list of collaborators was impressive - Jools Holland, Jim Thirwell, Thomas Leer, Zeke Manyika... and David Johansen!
Despite their help, this remains a highly personal record, depicting the state of mind of what was clearly a troubled man, but it's a story told by Johnson using lush melodies and the simplest of beats, making it accessible as well as haunting and powerful. Soul Mining held a sound never to be conceived again, the follow-up took eons in its inception & delivery, and despite an even bigger supporting cast, Infected would never come close.
A2 This Is The Day
A3 The Sinking Feeling
A4 Uncertain Smile
B1 The Twilight Hour
B2 Soul Mining
B3 Giant
C1 Perfect
D1 Fruit Of The Heart
D2 Soup Of Mixed Emotions
https://mega.nz/file/PYwXAQqA#uROnblzOPNsNCT_swMf8patO3y-1PiJpYlOagI4YCrw
ReplyDeleteThanks! Love this album!
ReplyDeleteA constant in my life since I was fourteen years old. I'm not sure it's been good for me.
ReplyDeleteOh ja, this is a very nice one. Always liked it, especially the long piano part. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is indeed probably the best of his albums, Infected was a bit weird by comparison.
Personally I would not underestimate the 1989 "Mind Bomb" though, that appeared to me as a somehow "adult" album.
Btw., I really appreciate an images folder like in this great upload. Thank you very much!
Many thanks for this rip. "Uncertain Smile" is for me the stand out, but a great piece of writing (both musically & lyric)
ReplyDeletethe whole album. Haven't listened to this for a while so am looking to absorbing your work!
Thanks for the new rip it's very much appreciated along with all of the other stuff ypu continue to post.
ReplyDeleteI was suprised to see him play a character in a Star Wars film.
Not just one of the best 80s albums but one of the best ever.
ReplyDeleteNow that the dust has settled, this emerges as perhaps one of the last great albums, the first gasp of the beginning of the end
ReplyDeleteThank you so much 🙂
ReplyDeleteDefinitely one of my desert island records. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteyup, my desert island album
ReplyDelete