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Post by michaellevenson on Feb 28, 2020 22:59:30 GMT
Wow, this group was amazing, had the world at their feet, big hits, wonderful acclaim, but suddenly they just walked away from it all.
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Post by michaellevenson on Feb 28, 2020 23:01:38 GMT
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Post by michaellevenson on Feb 28, 2020 23:03:55 GMT
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Post by michaellevenson on Feb 28, 2020 23:05:47 GMT
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Post by michaellevenson on Feb 28, 2020 23:07:29 GMT
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Post by michaellevenson on Feb 28, 2020 23:10:27 GMT
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Post by bravomailer on Feb 28, 2020 23:28:25 GMT
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Post by cryptoflovecraft on Feb 29, 2020 3:49:11 GMT
I like their hits, too. The first time I heard Talk Talk was in the Ron Howard film Night Shift starring Henry Winkler and Michael Keaton back in the early 80s. The song "Talk Talk" plays in the background during a nightclub scene. The scene is forgettable but the haunting new wave music isn't. I've never listened to much of their later non-commercial 'post-rock' material; I've heard that it's quite good though. Their album cover art was always great as well.
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Jokers_Wilde
Junior Member
@jokerswilde
Posts: 1,294
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Post by Jokers_Wilde on Feb 29, 2020 20:14:30 GMT
Agreed. LOVE the song AND the video for the song "Life's What You Make It".
And, you probably know this, but Mark Hollis, the lead singer, passed away last year.
Joker's Wilde
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Post by Nicko's Nose on Feb 29, 2020 21:35:49 GMT
I've never listened to much of their later non-commercial 'post-rock' material; I've heard that it's quite good though. Better than quite good. Spirit of Eden is one of the greatest albums of all time imo.
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Post by Eva Yojimbo on Mar 1, 2020 3:14:30 GMT
Top 15 band for me, very close to top 10. No band ever had a more extraordinary evolution. They started as a bland Duran Duran ripoff on The Party's Over. By their next album, It's My Life, they've become an excellent Duran Duran ripoff. The Colour of Spring was their big leap forward, a superb, nearly flawless mix of art and pop. It was a huge success too, and because of it the record company gave them complete creative freedom. The album that came from that freedom, Spirit of Eden, was one of the most original, creative, spiritual works of art ever released by a "pop" band. Their final album, Laughing Stock, was a refinement of that sound, with every song as delicate as a miniature sculpted gem. Even as post-rock has emerged as a genre in its own right, Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock still sound like almost nothing else out there. It might be a challenging listen for those who prefer their pop hits, but approach them with an open mind and patience, and they can be as profoundly moving as any music ever made.
Mark Hollis also released a single studio album, which is like a stripped down, singer-songwriter approach to the style of those last two albums. It's a superb album in its own right. It's amazing how those albums just seem to progressively strip everything away until the music just merges into haunting silence, almost as every sound they make is a struggle against the abyss. It seems hauntingly appropriate given how Hollis would never write/release another note after that until his death.
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Talk Talk
Mar 1, 2020 15:40:10 GMT
via mobile
Post by yougotastewgoinbaby on Mar 1, 2020 15:40:10 GMT
Laughing Stock is a great album.
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Post by stefancrosscoe on May 6, 2020 15:32:04 GMT
I will have to come back to this thread later on, as I am a big admirer of Talk Talk and Mark Hollis, but have not the time too keep on posting for much longer.
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Post by stefancrosscoe on May 9, 2020 20:03:01 GMT
Top 15 band for me, very close to top 10. No band ever had a more extraordinary evolution. They started as a bland Duran Duran ripoff on The Party's Over. By their next album, It's My Life, they've become an excellent Duran Duran ripoff. The Colour of Spring was their big leap forward, a superb, nearly flawless mix of art and pop. It was a huge success too, and because of it the record company gave them complete creative freedom. The album that came from that freedom, Spirit of Eden, was one of the most original, creative, spiritual works of art ever released by a "pop" band. Their final album, Laughing Stock, was a refinement of that sound, with every song as delicate as a miniature sculpted gem. Even as post-rock has emerged as a genre in its own right, Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock still sound like almost nothing else out there. It might be a challenging listen for those who prefer their pop hits, but approach them with an open mind and patience, and they can be as profoundly moving as any music ever made. Mark Hollis also released a single studio album, which is like a stripped down, singer-songwriter approach to the style of those last two albums. It's a superb album in its own right. It's amazing how those albums just seem to progressively strip everything away until the music just merges into haunting silence, almost as every sound they make is a struggle against the abyss. It seems hauntingly appropriate given how Hollis would never write/release another note after that until his death. I couldn't have put it down better myself. A truly fantastic and very fitting way of describing such a unique and talented group of musicians, who as you said always took a huge leap forward (never looked backwards) and combined these melodic, catchy melodies and music along with, well something very "different", and very few have come close of achieving what they made between 1986-1991, or so I believe, specially during the 80s, when the pressure from the record company was so onto them, expecting another huge selling album, and they just went the complete opposite direction, and in return they got sued and taken to court for not making music that was "commercially satisfactory" and it resultet in a very difficult and hard fight for so long, to finally free themselves, but came out on top, and their legacy seems to just keep on getting bigger for each year, and deservedly so. Sadly, Mark is no longer with us , and I truly wished he would have written so much more music and all, but I guess he was finished already back in the 90s, or so it seems, with the whole music industry, and I do really admire that, as he now wanted to spend time with his loved ones, and to be a dad, not a busy pop star. I have recently gone through their first two studio albums, but I will have to return a little later on with the reviews of those, but it was far more rewarding listening to them again, after so long, and I also heard Duran Duran's debut album, about a month ago, and I thought Talk Talk, hands down (not just saying as big fan, as I do enjoy a bit of Duran Duran from time to time), but yeah, there was no question who had the better first album. Talk Talk, with a bigger budget or another producer, less synths and drum machines, and that first record of theirs might have been so much better.
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Post by stefancrosscoe on May 9, 2020 20:20:08 GMT
but the haunting new wave music isn't. I've never listened to much of their later non-commercial 'post-rock' material; I've heard that it's quite good though. Their album cover art was always great as well. If you enjoyed their haunting sound, I do recommend to be sure of checking out some of the albums and songs made around 1986-1991, as they might not be as "easy listening" as some of their earlier synth pop or new wave hits, but it is such a rewarding feeling if you give them a bit of time and patience, cause once they settle in, there is no going back. Also, the album cover art, was also what truly made them stand apart, so early on. James Marsh design and paintings are truly stunning, and I thought they had the "whole package" going, very early on, from the sound, music, and cover art all just fit so good, and it must have been so inspiring for both Marsh and Talk Talk, to just continue on with this fantastic and creative relationship, where they seemed to get the very best out of each other, for so long.
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Post by stefancrosscoe on May 9, 2020 20:32:04 GMT
Earlier today, I decided to go through some of the Asides Besides (1998) album, which is a collection of rarities, b-sides, demos, and music never been given a proper release, and this might be for the more "die hard" fans, but it is a very interesting album, as it contains several tracks that really showcases how early on their whole"post-rock" approach had began to take place, as some of them were in the making already around 1985-86, and sounds way ahead of what went into their own studio albums at that time. However, I guess the record company took one listen to some of those, and just said a big "NO", as they were completely different and would probably have suited the Spirif of Eden sound more. Still, Colour of Spring do have its experimental moments, that surely points ahead forwards, so it was not that far away. Speaking of b-sides, I cannot think of many that comes close to this kind of sheer beauty, and to think they were not "worthy" of being given a place among their studio albums. It's Getting Late in the Evening (1986)For What It's Worth (1986)John Cope (1988)
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Post by stefancrosscoe on May 11, 2020 21:43:34 GMT
I know this soul crushing and powerful song has been brought up earlier, however, when I think of how much of a "contrast" Mark Hollis and Talk Talk were within the musical fashion and trends of that time, I just feel that their "live" version of I Believe In You, is both a very sad yet impressive performance if you will, by a band who very likely was forced to appear in these "Top of the Pop" shows.
But also the tragic knowledge or the meaning behind the songs lyrics, and then to have Mark sit down in front of an audience who looks like they are pretty much dressed up for a huge party, but instead what they got in return, is just, well, something completely different. It angers me how these wonderful musicians had to endure these kind of laughable shows, when we all know what kind of music they could deliver, as both a studio band, but of course also earlier on as an incredible live act.
Still, I rather take hours of Talk Talk doing their "live" set, than have to listen to many other artists and bands live music.
I Believe In You (1988)
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Post by stefancrosscoe on May 21, 2020 12:56:01 GMT
I guess this fine Talk Talk song should sit down well with todays date:
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Post by millar70 on Jun 26, 2020 21:46:22 GMT
Recently, I read an article about Talk Talk, and their story really intrigued me, so I decided to give their music a listen.
I am so glad I did, I enjoy the early stuff, but Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock have been absolute revelations for me. These are two incredibly stunning records, that get better with each repeated listening. I find myself going back to both of them just about every week for a listen since I first heard them, something I RARELY do with 80's music.
Amazing that a 80's pop band could evolve the way they did, but those two albums are incredible.
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Post by stefancrosscoe on Sept 11, 2020 12:28:52 GMT
Along with Kate Bush (specially The Dreaming and Hounds of Love) and The Cure, Talk Talk is one of those perfect musical "backdrops" for long or short walks into the forest during autumn, specially during later on, when it becomes much darker outside as well. It just fits so well in and I have always loved autumn, the air is so much more fresh and I sleep ten times better than during the summer.
Anyway, a few earlier Talk Talk favorites, which I have always considered as my kind of "autumn" music.
They had quite a "dark" and mystic/dreamy sound going on with some of the cuts from their debut, which I guess is highlighted by the lyrics and tone of Mark Hollis serious voice delivery, but also the dramatic piano along with the haunting combination of Paul Webb and his bass and the icy cold synths as well.
For me, these three are among the strongest cuts of their first record:
Candy (1982)
Have You Heard the News? (1982)
The Party's Over (1982)
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