The The - Soul Mining
Some Bizarre/Epic
October 21st, 1983.
The The's debut record, 'Soul Mining', beautifully embodies a sullen headspace. A place where two and two just wont add up. Things fall apart as fast as they find their feet, and the mirror reflects back a stranger. How can anyone know me? When I don't even know myself.
Soul Mining - diving deep down inside to catch a semblance of what we're made of. Putting the spirit up to the light; under the microscope. Ripping yourself to shreds to put the pieces back together again; better fitting - at least one can wish. Uncertain smiles are apparent all around - what am I actually doing? Am I all that I am? A life of constant sorrow, constant sinking. Quicksand existence - the harder you try, the faster you sink. The faster you flee, the faster you're found - by that which you flee from. Uncertain emotions result in uncertain feelings. A cast away on your own shores - foreign, even to yourself. Four in the morning. Not up early, as you haven't gone to bed. Caught in the space in between life and letting go. This restless mind refuses to give in. Thoughts stick like glue. Polluting your mind and diluting your energy, the remains a hollowed out spirit - a dilapidated entity. Little room for loosening - up-tight. Agitated with the lack of emotion capable of being felt. It's there, but buried under years of bottling it up - there's plenty of rainy days, but none to save for. Something always goes wrong, when things are going right. Anxiety looms large.
Jools Holland spills his soul in to 'Uncertain Smile'. The twinkle of his fingers act like sunshine amidst the perpetual clouds of Soul Mining. It's a transcendental moment - one of the finest in recorded music history. It saunters around your psyche in infinite cycles forever after.
Matt Johnson's words and woes cut bone deep.
This is the day, your life will surely change.
