Philip Johnson

Philip Johnson, a lost figure in the dark waters of early industrial music, self-released over 25 tapes starting in the late '70s. As a part of the "cassette culture" in the UK, he produced ethereal soundscapes, damaged electronics and undanceable drum patterns, along with homemade j-cards. For his first and only LP, 1982's Youth In Mourning, Philip Johnson further refined his approach with mesmerizing audio collages and Mark-E-Smith-ian vocals to make one of the most unique documents of the era.

A pioneer of industrial and noise music, Philip Johnson has been releasing his own deranged compositions since the 1970s, creating sounds that could at times be gorgeous, at others crafting soundscapes that were uninhabitable. 'Youth In Morning' was originally released in 1982, a collection of jarring field sounds and blustery percussion, with aggressive spoken word filtered on top or otherwise buried in the rubble. Johnson\'s poetry often meta-analysed the indie scene around him -- calling out people for being "fuckin' liars" -- and occasionally told eerie but intricate narratives, such as on "The Karate Kicking Of New Invention".  Youth In Mourning is a personal record, yet fearless. It pulls back the bedroom curtain, revealing (as Philip Johnson writes in the liner notes) "the sound of a warm-air heater on a cold afternoon and a cassette being pushed into the deck and switched on."

This first-time reissue comes from the original master tapes. Recommended for fans of Cabaret Voltaire, John Bender and The Shadow Ring.