Talk Talk

TrackAlbum / Single
It's My LifeIt's My Life
April 5thThe Colour Of Spring
Happiness Is EasyThe Colour Of Spring
Life's What You Make ItThe Colour Of Spring
EdenSpirit Of Eden
I Believe In YouSpirit Of Eden
WealthSpirit Of Eden
John CopeI Believe In You /John Cope single
New GrassLaughing Stock
TapheadLaughing Stock

 

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Talk Talk playlist

 

 

Contributor: Carl Burnett

Talk Talk were primarily active from 1981 to 1991, but it’s hard to think of a band who – their early forays aside – sound less typically ‘Eighties’ now. Their best albums (the last three) endure as maverick masterpieces which are both timeless and placeless. They are art house without any pretension.

Spirit Of Eden and Laughing Stock albums are progressive rock in the best sense of that phrase and have been an influence on many current bands including Radiohead and Sigur Rós.

The tracks I’ve selected include two of their brilliant big selling singles but also show their gradual transition from quality Pop Act to Post Rock subversives.

It is indeed ‘Such A Shame’ that after one sparse and challenging solo album (released after Talk Talk’s final album), singer/songwriter Mark Hollis retreated from making music just as he appeared to be at the height of his powers. The beautiful combination of Mark’s voice fused with elements of rock, jazz and ambient help make their music extraordinary, unique and moving.

“If you understand it,” Hollis said to one reviewer, “you do. If you don’t, nothing I say will make you understand it. The only thing I do by talking about it is detract from it. I can’t add anything. Can I go home now?”

It’s all there in the music.

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The above listing is in chronological order.

Talk Talk studio albums:
The Party’s Over (1982)
It’s My Life (1984)
The Colour Of Spring (1986)
Spirit Of Eden (1988)
Laughing Stock (1991)

John Cope appears on the Natural Order CD (2013) compiled by Mark Hollis.

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Mark Hollis (1955-2019)

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Talk Talk & Mark Hollis Facebook

A Mark Hollis and Talk Talk Resource

Talk Talk biography (Apple Music)

TopperPost #88

3 Comments

  1. John Askin
    Oct 5, 2013

    Good choices. New Grass and John Cope are heavenly pieces of music. And I remember them appearing on Top of the Pops performing Life’s What You Make It, the drummer performing like Animal from the Muppets … terrific.

  2. Nairn Davidson
    Nov 22, 2013

    Love the fact that they took risks and did what they wanted. Not many bands doing that nowadays, although I would be so bold as to compare them to These New Puritans, who certainly have some of their spirit and are massively recommended.

  3. Carl Burnett
    Nov 26, 2013

    Thanks for your comments John. Yes I remember that TOTP performance too! 🙂 Thanks Nairn, yes I agree about them taking risks. I’m not too familiar with These New Puritans, so I’ll be checking them out, thanks! 🙂

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