Needle Time

  The The - Perfect [A13-3119 UK 1983 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] In times when you feel that you are outside looking in on what are difficult times in our history, a little irony goes a long way, and there is no better in the field that the early works of Matt Johnson. Here is a brand new rip of the original UK twelve inch version of Perfect , which is very different to the recording on the bonus single with Soul Mining . Back in 1983, we possibly thought that Perfect was an ironic look at the world back then, however these days it should be considered as a look into Johnson's head space, maybe this is really a song about where his mental health was, in an ironic sort of way. Just perfect, well okay ...not in a perfect place. A1   Perfect B1   The Nature Of Virtue (Version 2)

  The The - Uncertain Smile [EPC A13-2787 UK 1982 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] To compliment last week's Soul Mining post, I thought now would be a good time to get some of the associated singles re-ripped, these versions are very different to the eventual album tracks having been  recorded with other musicians a year earlier, and the rawer/experimental edge to these singles reveals more about Matt Johnson's transition from Burning Blue Soul to Soul Mining . This stripped back version of Uncertain Smile kicks off with some treated vibes (& some deliberate wow & flutter) before that unforgettably familiar melody kicks in. I've always felt that lyrically this song is Johnson's finest -  the track actually began forming as a part of The The's second single, Cold Spell Ahead in 1981. This version runs very close to ten minutes in length. The The purists will be all over the two flipside tracks as well. A1 Uncertain Smile B1 Three Orange Kisses From Kazan B2 W...

  The The - Soul Mining [LP+12" LTD EPC 25525/XPR 1250 UK 1983 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC] 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 aband...

  The The - Infected [EPC 26770 UK 1986 24-Bit FLAC] Three years seemed like an eternity when you were in your late teens, that was how long we had to wait for the second The The album. The Sweet Bird Of Truth single seems very apt these days, back then who would have known that Matt Johnson's vision of our pending world would be so vivid and real. Johnson smears his politics all over this album, most of which now remind us of how the UK was during the Thatcher years, however there is more to this album than just politics - Johnson is angry and he wants to show it. Only the classic single, Heartland shows echoes of Soul Mining, were he would have never written lines like... She was lying on her back With her lips parted Squealing like a stuffed pig I was going through the motions Faking the emotions Wriggling around like lizard in a tin ....where Johnson tackles depression through carnal relief. I wonder if he was thinking of Neneh Cherry when he wrote this? This is not the ...

The The - Uncertain Smile [A13-2787 UK 1982 24-Bit FLAC] Here is my original UK 12" of Uncertain Smile re-worked in the same way. The track differs greatly from the version on Soul Mining , running at almost ten minutes in length. A1 Uncertain Smile B1 Three Orange Kisses From Kazan B2 Waitin' For The Upturn

The The - Perfect [A13-3119 UK 1983 24-Bit FLAC] Here is an old rip which I've been working on to see how much it can be improved. I now prefer to balance RMS channels rather than normalisation when mastering my rips - this is an experiment to see if the process can improve old wav files which have been normalised to higher volumes. I think in this instance, it has worked ...let your ears be the judge. In times when you feel that you are outside looking in on what are unprecedented times in our history, a little irony goes a long way, and there is no better in the field that the early works of Matt Johnson. Just perfect. A1 Perfect B1 The Nature Of Virtue (Version 2)

The The - Soul Mining [LP+12" LTD EPC 25525/XPR 1250 UK 1983 24-Bit FLAC] 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 other 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 perso...

Various - Natures Mortes : Still Lives [P-1149 JPN 1982 24-Bit FLAC] I posted my 1997 compact disc reissue of Natures Mortes : Still Lives back on the old blog a few years ago prior to a huge run of 4AD posts. The original album is quite hard to come by as it was a Japanese market release by WEA. I picked up this copy at a recent record fair from a collector who was selling his collection, so it is with great pleasure that I can offer you my rip in 24-bits of high resolution flac. Enjoy! A1  The Birthday Party - Mr. Clarinet A2  Psychotik Tanks - Let's Have A Party A3  Rema-Rema - Feedback Song A4  In Camera - Die Laughing A5  Bauhaus - Rosegarden Funeral Of Sores A6  Mass - You And I B1  Cupol - Like This For Ages B2  Modern English - Gathering Dust B3  Sort Sol - Marble Station B4  The The - Controversial Subject B5  The Past Seven Days - Raindance B6  Dif Juz - Re