Burning Blue Soul

Released in 1981 on 4AD, Burning Blue Soul was originally credited to Matt Johnson before being retroactively folded into The The's discography. Recorded primarily by Johnson with assistance from producer Bruce Gilbert and Graham Lewis (of Wire), the album is a stark departure from the more structured, marimba-flecked synth-pop of Soul Mining. It represents a bridge between the industrial-leaning experimentalism of the early 80s London scene and the art-rock sensibilities Johnson would later refine. The recording is characterized by its heavy use of tape manipulation, found sounds, and a 'bedroom' aesthetic that predates the lo-fi movement by a decade. Critics, including those at Pitchfork, have noted its importance as a foundational text for the darker side of 80s alternative music, praising its uncompromising emotional honesty and its ability to conjure a vivid, albeit bleak, sonic world. It remains a cult favorite, distinct for its lack of commercial artifice.