Gotham Child is Johno Well's second release on Errorgrid and his first 'concept' album.
As such it follows the anger ridden protagonist's dark descent into death as a detailed and elaborated storyline told in 5 distinct chapters. What this release depicts is a somber, rainy and monochromatic world, where hope has given way to a final exhale of despair. A sonic graphic novel that graces all senses.

Johno calls it 'without a doubt my most fearless, coherent and honest effort to date.'

Copyright ERRORGRID RECORDS 2021

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Original release text from the artist:

Each track releases carefully and intentionally into the next in a story of descent into death in a dark and crime-ridden city of rain, dirty puddles, grimacing metallic faces, and fear. Our character faces himself in his final days, dying from a rare genetic disease. He’s running from himself, his dreams, and his hopes for his own life, and humanity. He’s angry. He’s done. This should read like a graphic novel story-board. Gotham Child was created entirely on a modular synthesizer with no overdubs.

TRACK 1 - SPRINT
The EP starts with a fast sprint into the dark. His journey to the end has begun. Anyone else would be terrified of what they see in these dirty streets, but his rage and confusion make him fearless. Unsure of where he’s going, he has accepted his place on the planet...and knows his descent has begun.

TRACK 2 - SOLACE
Our character is stumbling and aware of his demise and has decided he won’t fight anymore. Like a dog that goes away to quietly die alone away from his master, he looks for a final place of solace to take his last breaths. Like Alice looking down the hallway that seems smaller as she grows taller, every turn he makes doesn’t give him any escape...only more frustration and despair.

TRACK 3 - DEFEAT
The physical maladies that are killing our character are having their last attack on his mind and body. His life flashes before him...the bad choices he made...the good ones...the relationships...the worthless jobs...the alienation... His fever is making him insane. A stranger offers help, but he mistakes the moment of kindness as another in a long line of attacks..and his cynicism makes him turn away.

TRACK 4 - INSTINCT
This is the sad yet lovely human response to live. Though he has given up in his mind, his body is doing the instinctive fight to stay alive. He shudders in the dark hole he’s found underneath a fire-escape in the bowels of the city. His eyes are shut. Rain drops from the metal steps above him onto his face. You can hear the rats around him...sucking the life out of little morsels of trash and grime.

TRACK 5 - RATTLE
His final breaths. The city around him doesn’t give a damn...he’ll be accidentally found the next day like a discarded pile of garbage. His body twitches. He pisses himself. He’s cold. The body starts to shut down. The city echoes around him...laughing...taunting him to hang on...until.......he...lets go.