The Stranglers once released an album called _Aural Sculpture._ I have long felt that "aural sculpture" was the single best description of music I have ever come across.
So grateful for Matt Johnson & The The. Their music has been the soundtrack of some glorious and heinous parts of my life. It's a blessing to be able to turn on their music and sing and listen and fall into it, get lost....until it's time to face life again. Can't wait to see them in a couple months in Chicago ❤
The only thing that lets Mindbomb down is the album cover. I remember being so disappointed and it affected my love of it. Saying that, I absolutely love the album!
The infected video (the whole thing) made my jaw drop when I was young. I will always return to it from time to time. Soul mining, Infected and Mind bomb was constantly playing in my car. By coincidence I found a new Matt (Maeson) that somehow reminded me of Matt from that period. Anyone else?
I’m in my early fifties now. I remember buying soul mining in 83 then infected some years later and eventually found screaming blue soul. I literally played those albums daily. I still have the vinyls but I also bought them on cassette back them for my Walkman. Matt Johnson wasn’t simply a pop act he is a true artist. He communicated the world around him. I wish he could make a new true the the album I would be fascinated to hear his take on the world today. My son is in his twenties now and he’s a massive the the fan too!
Matt is one of the most consistently visionary and interesting creative talents of my lifetime. Some of his albums are timeless and that manifests as having the appearance of being almost prophetic. In that regard, Mind Bomb stands out to me, lyrically speaking it is utterly modern. I am trapped in two minds about his body of work. On the one hand I wish there were a lot more people capable of producing that kind of sophisticated brainfood. On the other hand, if it were more commonplace, Matt's work might not stand out as being so exceptional. Thanks, uploader. Excellent interview.
So great hearing about Johnson's collaborations with Leer. Private Plane still resonates with me today. I remember hearing Phil Oakey play that track at the beginning of a radio set he did a number of years back.
The first The The 7” single and Matt Johnson’s “Burning Blue Flame” LP (both on 4AD) are a couple of my favorite overlooked Post-Punk gems. It’s great to hear him speak about that time and his influences, etc. It’s not surprising that he was inspired by “Private Plane”. His Gadgets band/project had a few excellent albums as well. “Giant” is my favorite track on Soul Mining and I often play it in DJ sets.
Ever since I heard the single on the Some Bizarre compilation I bought when I was in England in 1985, I have felt a real connection to Matt that I can't even explain except to say that his music resonates with me beyond anything else I've ever heard. All of it. Thank you Matt!
This is simply brilliant... so fabulous to hear Matt chatting so relaxed and candidly... and a helluva lot of interesting historical tidbits... Kudos and thanks so much for sharing...
@1:16 "I wasn't a fan of punk" - I always knew Matt Johnson was a clever man, just from listening to his music and lyric. This confirms it. True indie.
The first song of Matts’ that I heard - probably in 1983 ( out in the sticks before my district was an extension of Greater London ) and understood exactly how he felt , was on a compilation that I found and have forgotten it’s title but the song I can’t find on here begins with “ It’s the first day of spring with clean air in the wind - and everything is as it should’ve been ...” All I get is the Bob Dylan Title 🙄🏴❤️thanks for this
Soul Mining, was such a wonderful record, I discovered it late in 1988 while I was in college, and I have to say I knew about The the from the infected album I think that was an '86 but I just wasn't into it,
all the bands die er nannte, sei es Throbbing Ghistle, Cabaret... Nice euch damals gehabt zu haben!. Und überhaupt der über- zeugte j.Schmidt, Amalie.Sag mir, wie geil dues noch findst
Resonates so much with me. Recording secretly in the night Sotto Voce to avoid waking other occupants of the house.... finally got round to public release this year 35 years late. music.ruclips.net/channel/UCjdgDbsKPx1icE052xrGfyw?feature=shared (Solo) And with band music.ruclips.net/channel/UCybybkemvKeJzqvp_quzvGA?feature=shared Many years worth of releases to come every week until we finish our re-union album later for an early 2025 release. Have a listen to some of these post-punk tracks. Loved your music since the first album which I bought because of the cover art 😂
@@dannystoker6829 Eh, it's worth it. And as Matt himself says, things happening like the fridge switching on becomes part of the creative process. I'll take this interview warts and all over the alternative, which is to have nothing instead.
He is and always will be, a genius and a huge part of the soundtrack to my life.
same here !! :) x
SAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
genius
,,, nuff said ...
Same here
His new lp is fantastic
Soul Mining was a simply brilliant and wonderful album. A true classic!
Genuinely nice guy, if we had people like him as politicians we'd be in a much better place.
The good have no desire to be politicians.
@@TopnikkoI like that !
One of the best lyricists ever. I want "Love is stronger than death" to be played at my funeral.
Was played at my mom's.
What a beautiful speaking voice he’s god. Mega talented man.
Uncertain Smile is a Masterpiece 💜
Soul Mining changed my life...end of story.... :o)
Saw The The performance on Saturday, you can not get a better gig, especially in a smaller venue. Just Brilliant
Infected totally turned my music taste on its head when it came out
“Dusk” is the finest audio art ever created.
The Stranglers once released an album called _Aural Sculpture._ I have long felt that "aural sculpture" was the single best description of music I have ever come across.
Funny to read that last comment … exactly the soundtrack of my life!
Soul Mining , wonderful album.
Indeed. An album for the ages.
Matt Johnson is a genius
Matt is a lovely guy and a genius to boot.Infected is still my fav album of all time.
I am so ready for the release of Ensoulment in September.
Giant.
So grateful for Matt Johnson & The The. Their music has been the soundtrack of some glorious and heinous parts of my life. It's a blessing to be able to turn on their music and sing and listen and fall into it, get lost....until it's time to face life again. Can't wait to see them in a couple months in Chicago ❤
'Mind Bomb' could have been written today.
Super relevant album
The only thing that lets Mindbomb down is the album cover. I remember being so disappointed and it affected my love of it. Saying that, I absolutely love the album!
THINK ITS ME FAVOURITE THE the ALBUM ,MAYBE
Very true, The Beat(en) Generation especially. I hope a younger generation revisits Matt’s music.
34 years after it's release and Infected is still my favourite album, thank you Matt Johnson! Great Interview, thank you for sharing it!
Thanks for watching, Scott
The Mercy Beat is a hypnotic track. Still listen to it regularly.
The infected video (the whole thing) made my jaw drop when I was young. I will always return to it from time to time. Soul mining, Infected and Mind bomb was constantly playing in my car. By coincidence I found a new Matt (Maeson) that somehow reminded me of Matt from that period. Anyone else?
Mind Bomb was the one for me. God bless Matt.
Me too! Such a wonderfully haunting album. Absolute masterpiece❤
I’m in my early fifties now. I remember buying soul mining in 83 then infected some years later and eventually found screaming blue soul.
I literally played those albums daily. I still have the vinyls but I also bought them on cassette back them for my Walkman.
Matt Johnson wasn’t simply a pop act he is a true artist. He communicated the world around him. I wish he could make a new true the the album I would be fascinated to hear his take on the world today.
My son is in his twenties now and he’s a massive the the fan too!
Your wish comes true this September
Matt is one of the most consistently visionary and interesting creative talents of my lifetime. Some of his albums are timeless and that manifests as having the appearance of being almost prophetic. In that regard, Mind Bomb stands out to me, lyrically speaking it is utterly modern.
I am trapped in two minds about his body of work. On the one hand I wish there were a lot more people capable of producing that kind of sophisticated brainfood. On the other hand, if it were more commonplace, Matt's work might not stand out as being so exceptional.
Thanks, uploader. Excellent interview.
Soul Mining was introduced to me by my first true love ❤️ and I am forever indebted
Brilliant interview. Matt Johnson is a genius. Thanks for posting
For someone who talks about doing something on his own, he has always been able to bring all the big guns to work on his projects.
So great hearing about Johnson's collaborations with Leer. Private Plane still resonates with me today. I remember hearing Phil Oakey play that track at the beginning of a radio set he did a number of years back.
Brings me back to the 80's while I was in the military.
The first The The 7” single and Matt Johnson’s “Burning Blue Flame” LP (both on 4AD) are a couple of my favorite overlooked Post-Punk gems. It’s great to hear him speak about that time and his influences, etc. It’s not surprising that he was inspired by “Private Plane”. His Gadgets band/project had a few excellent albums as well. “Giant” is my favorite track on Soul Mining and I often play it in DJ sets.
Burning Blue Soul*
Greatest musician ever. I love this music. Nobody can do something like this doday. Poor kids. You will never experience good music . Just bullshit
Man this is a treasure trove to watch. Thank you for inspiring me Matt Johnson. Burning Blue Soul, I mean . . off the scale foundational.
Matt Johnson and Thomas leer both underrated there music was great in the 80s
One of my favourite artists ever!
,,, massive respect,, greatings from berlin ...
Saw The The in the late Nineties when he made a gig in Florence Italy.
Thank you for this. Lovely interview, what a fabulous talent and a stellar human being Matt Johnson is.
Awesome artist. Great to hear of his experiences.
Legend.
Ever since I heard the single on the Some Bizarre compilation I bought when I was in England in 1985, I have felt a real connection to Matt that I can't even explain except to say that his music resonates with me beyond anything else I've ever heard. All of it. Thank you Matt!
This is simply brilliant... so fabulous to hear Matt chatting so relaxed and candidly... and a helluva lot of interesting historical tidbits... Kudos and thanks so much for sharing...
Thanks very much!
@1:16 "I wasn't a fan of punk" - I always knew Matt Johnson was a clever man, just from listening to his music and lyric. This confirms it. True indie.
I really love DUSK, and wish they would do a rerelease on vinyl. The The are a exceptional band.
Would love a copy of Dusk on vinyl.
great interview
genius and ahead of his time
Thank you for especially mind bomb..it had had a huge effect on me back when i was a young man
aaaaa, thx for this!
The first song of Matts’ that I heard - probably in 1983 ( out in the sticks before my district was an extension of Greater London ) and understood exactly how he felt , was on a compilation that I found and have forgotten it’s title but the song I can’t find on here begins with “ It’s the first day of spring with clean air in the wind - and everything is as it should’ve been ...” All I get is the Bob Dylan Title 🙄🏴❤️thanks for this
Flesh and Bones is the name of the track
@@anthonyristic 👍😁❤️
Soul Mining, was such a wonderful record, I discovered it late in 1988 while I was in college, and I have to say I knew about The the from the infected album I think that was an '86 but I just wasn't into it,
Thanks for posting this interview. Fantastic.
I instantly believe that Marc Almond would go berserk! Listen to him on Horse Rotorvator!
Lol Kid Montana man where is the time . Kid Montana was at my home and i use still his Opcode midi box .
He infected me from the get go
Wait, Matt Johnson can smile? What in the world is happening!
Giant isn’t favorite track in soul mining.when I learned my own soul
So strange he talk about Kid Montana . I met Jean Marc many times .
all the bands die er nannte, sei es Throbbing Ghistle, Cabaret...
Nice euch damals gehabt zu haben!.
Und überhaupt der über-
zeugte j.Schmidt, Amalie.Sag mir, wie geil dues noch findst
anybody know what "private play" he was talking about?
Private Plane by Thomas Leer, released in 1978 - ruclips.net/video/sehOKE4vNGE/видео.html&ab_channel=SeagreenSerenade
Resonates so much with me. Recording secretly in the night Sotto Voce to avoid waking other occupants of the house.... finally got round to public release this year 35 years late.
music.ruclips.net/channel/UCjdgDbsKPx1icE052xrGfyw?feature=shared
(Solo)
And with band
music.ruclips.net/channel/UCybybkemvKeJzqvp_quzvGA?feature=shared
Many years worth of releases to come every week until we finish our re-union album later for an early 2025 release. Have a listen to some of these post-punk tracks. Loved your music since the first album which I bought because of the cover art 😂
No mention of Jools Holland?
I always felt Matt was a frustrated progger trapped in a post punk world...voice sounds like Ian Anderson of Tull.
I wonder if he was mates with Steve millander and caberet Voltaire .
Brilliant
wow crap sound
You're right, the truth does hurt. We did our best.
@@dannystoker6829 Eh, it's worth it. And as Matt himself says, things happening like the fridge switching on becomes part of the creative process. I'll take this interview warts and all over the alternative, which is to have nothing instead.