An album every quarter of a century is not a bad response to the speed and hyperproliferation of sound in recent years.
That Matt Johnson was a character beyond any scheme and any rules has always been known since his debut with his sound creature The The in 1983. “Soul Mining” is a masterpiece still unattainable for a certain post-punk with an eighties pop attitude.
Lyrically, the album encompasses themes ranging from love to sex, from war to politics, from life to death – all of Johnson's carnal and moralistic concerns are present and looming.
Under The Technically speaking, “Ensoulment” was written and mixed at Studio Cinéola in London, the home base of THE THE’s main creative force, Matt Johnson.
The songs were further refined during rehearsals, before a six-day session at Real World Studios near Bath, where Matt joined long-time THE THE members: James Eller (bass), DC Collard (keyboards), Earl Harvin (drums) and Barrie Cadogan (lead guitar). The album also marks the return of co-producer and engineer Warne Livesey, who had previously worked on the albums Infected (1986) and Mind Bomb (1989). Collaborators also include Gillian Glover (backing vocals), Terry Edwards (winds), Sonya Cullingford (fiddle) and Danny Cummings (percussion).
Over the years, THE THE releases have developed a distinct aesthetic style, which is largely due to the artwork of Matt Johnson's late brother, Andrew (AKA artist Andy Dog). Ensoulment features some of Andrew's previously unreleased artwork on the cover, in the 32-page booklet for the vinyl and CD formats, as well as on the covers of all the singles.
While his more experimental tendencies are now channeled into soundtrack work, “Ensoulment” has its visionary moments, as in the case of Down By The Frozen River and Linoleum Smooth To The Stockinged Foot, both pieces of dreamlike atmosphere. But, even if he might seem to still be searching for dark forces in the outside world, elsewhere he seems to have found an inner peace. Risin' Above The Need and A Rainy Day In May, which show the 63-year-old exuding positivity, are backed by some of his finest tunes since Soul Mining.
Enjoy this album. The risk is that we will have to wait until 2050 before hearing something new signed The The!
MUST LISTEN NOW
Cognitive Dissident – Some Days I Drink My Coffee By The Grave Of William Blake – A Rainy Day In May
MUST SKIPP NOW
Nothing, the album works and is easy to listen to.
SCORE: 7,50
1. Cognitive Dissident – RATING 8.00
2.Some Days I Drink My Coffee By The Grave Of William Blake – RATING 8.00
3. Zen & The Art Of Dating – RATING 7.00
4. Kissing The Ring Of POTUS – RATING 7.50
5. Life After Life – RATING 7.00
6. I Want To Wake Up With You RATING 7.00
7. Down By The Frozen River RATING 7.50
8. Risin' Above The Need – RATING 7.00
9. Linoleum Smooth To The Stockinged Foot – RATING 7.50
10. Where Do We Go When We Die? – RATING 7.00
11. I Hope You Remember (the things I can't forget) – RATING 7.00
12.A Rainy Day In May – RATING 7.50
TRACKLIST
The article Review: THE THE – “Ensoulment” comes from WECB.
