A dark debut that has been overshadowed by the later, lighter works and is more akin to Bauhaus and Joy Division. The original album has been augmented by adding singles and rare tracks.
The album is a subterranean labyrinth peopled by bizarre characters like Nick the Stripper and King Ink, and replete with images of murder, decay, blood, and Kafka-esque insects. Highly recommended for those aspiring to advanced states of dementia.
The first Matt Johnson album, originally issued under his own name in 1981, mixes accessible pop and dissonant experimentation and is a valuable sketchbook for The The fans interested in dissecting the early inner workings of Johnson's art.
