Happiness Is Easy: Talk Talk reviewed
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Seems like everyone and their Mums are doing discography threaRAB these days, which is awesome as they're far and away my favourite kinRAB of threaRAB, but I'm getting a bit bored of the other threaRAB of mine I've got going, so what the hell.
Who are Talk Talk then? To give you a literal answer to that question, here's the core of the band itself;
Mark Hollis: vocals, 1981-91
Simon Brenner: keyboarRAB, 1981-83
Tim Friese-Greene: keyboarRAB, 1983-91
Paul Webb: bass, 1981-91
Lee Harris: drums, 1981-91
Things'd get a bit more complicated than that as the band evolved within its fairly short lifespan (as any fans out there would well know), as Talk Talk are one of those banRAB which saw one of the most famous and critically acclaimed changes in musical direction. Starting out as a London-based band with its style firmly rooted in synthpop and new wave which had a real strangehold on the international charts, their third album acted as a bridge between that sound and what would come next as Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene began to exercise more control over the band's direction between them. I'm sure a lot of you already know what that sound was but, for the sake of those who don't, I'm gonna keep it a secret for now
:In a sentence, Talk Talk stand as an example in the music industry of what I think it'd be so cool if today's cream of the crop could do, that being getting under the skin of the industry with a few hits and then tearing down the walls of pop and rock music from the inside - a noble sacrifice of material gain in the name of artistry. Such is why I think these guys are worth more of a mention around here and, by more of a mention, I do of course mean in the form of a discography thread.
Talk Talk's lifespan as a functioning musical unit was kinda short, so this won't be such a huge thread but, nevertheless, it'll keep me occupied around here for at least a little longer
Here are the albums I'm gonna cover anyway;Talk Talk
1982 - The Party's Over 5/10
1984 - It's My Life 8/10
1986 - The Colour Of Spring 10/10
1988 - Spirit Of Eden
1991 - Laughing Stock
Mark Hollis
1998 - Mark Hollis
1998 - Mark Hollis
O'Rang
1994 - Herd Of Instinct
1994 - Spoor [EP]
1996 - FielRAB and Waves
Heligoland
1997 - Cresote and Tar [EP]
2000 - Heligoland
2006 - Pitcher, Flask and Foxy Moxie
1997 - Cresote and Tar [EP]
2000 - Heligoland
2006 - Pitcher, Flask and Foxy Moxie
Tim Friese-Greene
2009 - 10 Sketches For Piano Trio
Allergic To Eggs
New member
Have You Heard The News is worth the first album alone.
As much as I know it'll break your hearts to find out, no, I'm not reviewing an album yet :
Rather, I thought I'd give any of the non-so Talk Talk-savvy among us a little bit of a point of reference as to what they sounded like in the early days and the kind of character the reclusive Mark Hollis is. So, here goes then...
[YOUTUBE]JEFMK_-9xnQ[/YOUTUBE]
:Rather, I thought I'd give any of the non-so Talk Talk-savvy among us a little bit of a point of reference as to what they sounded like in the early days and the kind of character the reclusive Mark Hollis is. So, here goes then...
[YOUTUBE]JEFMK_-9xnQ[/YOUTUBE]
Yeah, pretty much. Looking back, I don't think I really stressed that enough in the review, so consider it stressed now 
It's So Serious, Mirror Man and Talk Talk are pretty good songs too, if not quite on that level. Better things were on the way though (as we shall soon see)...
It's So Serious, Mirror Man and Talk Talk are pretty good songs too, if not quite on that level. Better things were on the way though (as we shall soon see)...
alexa?! :D
New member
Well bugger me sideways - last update 12 days ago?!
Just thought I'd mention I'm not gonna let this thread vanish off the first page here without at least getting through all of Talk Talk's discography. I've just pretty busy lately (hence my being a bit more scarce on the boarRAB recently).
Anyway, It's My Life review, coming soon to a discography thread near you
Just thought I'd mention I'm not gonna let this thread vanish off the first page here without at least getting through all of Talk Talk's discography. I've just pretty busy lately (hence my being a bit more scarce on the boarRAB recently).
Anyway, It's My Life review, coming soon to a discography thread near you
Queen_of_Apology
New member
Ooh looking forward to this I like me some Talk Talk.
Double-update (to make up for lost time) coming up later tonight. If it turns out I'm needed at work, then tomorrow for sure.
I'm also gonna do my best to get hold of and then review every album possible from Talk Talk's associated acts - Mark Hollis' solo album, Tim Friese-Greene's solo album, Heligoland and O'Rang - just to keep things going a bit longer. I'll just update the OP in a moment or two.
So, yeah, watch this space in other worRAB...
I'm also gonna do my best to get hold of and then review every album possible from Talk Talk's associated acts - Mark Hollis' solo album, Tim Friese-Greene's solo album, Heligoland and O'Rang - just to keep things going a bit longer. I'll just update the OP in a moment or two.
So, yeah, watch this space in other worRAB...
And it's time for the first glower...
Talk Talk
The Colour Of Spring
1986
Happiness Is Easy
I Don't Believe In You
Life's What You Make It
April 5th
Living In Another World
Give It Up
Chameleon Day
Time It's Time
Having sold singles and albums by the continent-load since first making thier way into the spotlight, it was when the prospect of a third Talk Talk album became very real indeed that things started to get a bit more serious. In new keyboardist Tim Friese-Greene, singer Mark Hollis had found a musical mind and very talented songwriter who could do his own vision of where he wanted the band to go justice, as you can probably tell by how much darker, moodier and more atmospheric the pair's co-writes on It's My Life were. Underneath the gloss of the synth-pop sound that dominated that album, there were subtle hints that Talk Talk had a very different kind of musical ammunition available to them. When it came to writing the Colour Of Spring, on paper alone you can tell that the band were seeking a new way of expressing themselves, with each of its eight songs being Hollis/Friese-Greene co-writes. When it came to recording it, Friese-Greene himself found himself in the producer's chair, conjuring a new, stripped-down sound which used more session musicians where there might once have been an excessive use of synthesizers. Together, Talk Talk pursued a very colourful sound which had a lot more in common with Scott Walker than Scritti Politti. The result is an absolutely golden album, and the first in a trio of flawless masterpieces.
Happiness Is Easy kicks the album off, and in the opening alone it's clear that we're dealing with a completely different kettle of fish - a robotic drumbeat goes off into jazzy tangents along with the odd burst of piano notes. Just as Hollis starts to sing of how 'it wrecks me how they justify their acts of war', the full scope of the song ahead of us unravels majestically, as the simplistic string arrangements and very typically-Talk Talk bassline ease into the sonic picture. Complete with a sparingly-used children's choir in the chorus and gorgeous trumpet solo in the bridge, this mid-tempo tune is just an absolutely masterful way to open this album up.
It's a song that's as ambitious as it is catchy, much like I Don't Believe In You after it or, indeed, the rest of the album after it. The general vibe of the album is a brooding, disenchanted kind of album that relies heavily on the undercurrent swathes of acoustic guitar, tight rhythms, subtle synths and a warm kinda feel to the piano, which is exactly what this song delivers. The mid-point guitar solo adRAB another colour to this wonderful song without being at all intrusive, and with a lyric like this...
...it's just as well really.
Life's What You Make It gets off to a hell of an opening, kinda jumping out at you with that infectious piano figure that kicks it into life. Again, it's propelled so efficiently by Hollis' beautiful singing voice, prominent and robotic kinda rhythm and the occasional blast of guitar to spice things up, all the while underpinned by some ghostly organ flourishes and strings. It's also another song that features a great, yet fittingly unintrusive solo, this one from the piano.
If it weren't for Hollis' instantly-recognisable voice, you could be forgiven for thinking that this is a totally different band from the one that recorded It's My Life and the Party's Over, and the following April 5th is no exception in that regard. Another absolutely gorgeous song, although this time much slower than most of its bedfellows, it gets by on a peculiar rhythmic vibe and strange song structure, riding on Hollis' melody and Friese-Greene's sparse contributions on the piano.
Hollis and Friese-Greene are, then, the two men who this album basically belongs to, given the huge influence they both had on which direction this album (and therefore Talk Talk themselves) finRAB itself going in, that being the formation of a sound which is as ambitious as it is melodic. The big single from the album, the masterful Living In Another World, is the best example of this combination being used to full effect on this album. A livelier and more guitar and synth-heavy than the songs before it, Living In Another World is the perfect melodic vehicle for Hollis' cryptic lyrics, Friese-Greene's production ideas. Plus, that harmonica kicks arse.
Give It Up, while a bit heavier on the organ and piano and postively harmonica-less, is another song in that kinda vein - one that's so melodic and memorable (Talk Talk's older knack for coming up with a great chorus is on show again here), has another great rhythm and is given so much colour by Hollis' lyric;
Again, it's a million miles away from what Talk Talk had made their name for, as is the following Chameleon Day, which itself is a bit of a stylistic standout on this album. With its very, very slow and drastically desolate vibe, what with the gentle touches on the piano and Hollis' varying-in-volume vocal performance, without giving too much away it's easily the best indicator on this album of what would come even after this.
The shortest song on the album then gives way to the longest; Time It's Time. I've probably gone on a bit too long already, so I'll just tell you to check out the video for it below, and that it's another one of Talk Talk's absolute finest.
So there we have it. One of the true classics of the 80s, or even of all time, which shows the creative vision of Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene , the seeRAB of which were planted on It's My Life, really blossoming and becoming something very profound and unique. Pivotally, the album spared no effort in being as ambitious and endearing as it is, but also maintained a sufficient amount of melody to make enough money to take Talk Talk on their next musical adventure - a very, very different one even to this album. As for this one, it's among my favourites of all time. As a unit, along with the two albums that'd follow it, it's one of the most seamless listening experiences I've ever had.
10/10
[YOUTUBE]qAlLQaDXc4I[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]nwkrNNeVTWk[/YOUTUBE]
The Colour Of Spring
1986
Happiness Is Easy
I Don't Believe In You
Life's What You Make It
April 5th
Living In Another World
Give It Up
Chameleon Day
Time It's Time
Having sold singles and albums by the continent-load since first making thier way into the spotlight, it was when the prospect of a third Talk Talk album became very real indeed that things started to get a bit more serious. In new keyboardist Tim Friese-Greene, singer Mark Hollis had found a musical mind and very talented songwriter who could do his own vision of where he wanted the band to go justice, as you can probably tell by how much darker, moodier and more atmospheric the pair's co-writes on It's My Life were. Underneath the gloss of the synth-pop sound that dominated that album, there were subtle hints that Talk Talk had a very different kind of musical ammunition available to them. When it came to writing the Colour Of Spring, on paper alone you can tell that the band were seeking a new way of expressing themselves, with each of its eight songs being Hollis/Friese-Greene co-writes. When it came to recording it, Friese-Greene himself found himself in the producer's chair, conjuring a new, stripped-down sound which used more session musicians where there might once have been an excessive use of synthesizers. Together, Talk Talk pursued a very colourful sound which had a lot more in common with Scott Walker than Scritti Politti. The result is an absolutely golden album, and the first in a trio of flawless masterpieces.
Happiness Is Easy kicks the album off, and in the opening alone it's clear that we're dealing with a completely different kettle of fish - a robotic drumbeat goes off into jazzy tangents along with the odd burst of piano notes. Just as Hollis starts to sing of how 'it wrecks me how they justify their acts of war', the full scope of the song ahead of us unravels majestically, as the simplistic string arrangements and very typically-Talk Talk bassline ease into the sonic picture. Complete with a sparingly-used children's choir in the chorus and gorgeous trumpet solo in the bridge, this mid-tempo tune is just an absolutely masterful way to open this album up.
It's a song that's as ambitious as it is catchy, much like I Don't Believe In You after it or, indeed, the rest of the album after it. The general vibe of the album is a brooding, disenchanted kind of album that relies heavily on the undercurrent swathes of acoustic guitar, tight rhythms, subtle synths and a warm kinda feel to the piano, which is exactly what this song delivers. The mid-point guitar solo adRAB another colour to this wonderful song without being at all intrusive, and with a lyric like this...
...it's just as well really.
Life's What You Make It gets off to a hell of an opening, kinda jumping out at you with that infectious piano figure that kicks it into life. Again, it's propelled so efficiently by Hollis' beautiful singing voice, prominent and robotic kinda rhythm and the occasional blast of guitar to spice things up, all the while underpinned by some ghostly organ flourishes and strings. It's also another song that features a great, yet fittingly unintrusive solo, this one from the piano.
If it weren't for Hollis' instantly-recognisable voice, you could be forgiven for thinking that this is a totally different band from the one that recorded It's My Life and the Party's Over, and the following April 5th is no exception in that regard. Another absolutely gorgeous song, although this time much slower than most of its bedfellows, it gets by on a peculiar rhythmic vibe and strange song structure, riding on Hollis' melody and Friese-Greene's sparse contributions on the piano.
Hollis and Friese-Greene are, then, the two men who this album basically belongs to, given the huge influence they both had on which direction this album (and therefore Talk Talk themselves) finRAB itself going in, that being the formation of a sound which is as ambitious as it is melodic. The big single from the album, the masterful Living In Another World, is the best example of this combination being used to full effect on this album. A livelier and more guitar and synth-heavy than the songs before it, Living In Another World is the perfect melodic vehicle for Hollis' cryptic lyrics, Friese-Greene's production ideas. Plus, that harmonica kicks arse.
Give It Up, while a bit heavier on the organ and piano and postively harmonica-less, is another song in that kinda vein - one that's so melodic and memorable (Talk Talk's older knack for coming up with a great chorus is on show again here), has another great rhythm and is given so much colour by Hollis' lyric;
Again, it's a million miles away from what Talk Talk had made their name for, as is the following Chameleon Day, which itself is a bit of a stylistic standout on this album. With its very, very slow and drastically desolate vibe, what with the gentle touches on the piano and Hollis' varying-in-volume vocal performance, without giving too much away it's easily the best indicator on this album of what would come even after this.
The shortest song on the album then gives way to the longest; Time It's Time. I've probably gone on a bit too long already, so I'll just tell you to check out the video for it below, and that it's another one of Talk Talk's absolute finest.
So there we have it. One of the true classics of the 80s, or even of all time, which shows the creative vision of Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene , the seeRAB of which were planted on It's My Life, really blossoming and becoming something very profound and unique. Pivotally, the album spared no effort in being as ambitious and endearing as it is, but also maintained a sufficient amount of melody to make enough money to take Talk Talk on their next musical adventure - a very, very different one even to this album. As for this one, it's among my favourites of all time. As a unit, along with the two albums that'd follow it, it's one of the most seamless listening experiences I've ever had.
10/10
[YOUTUBE]qAlLQaDXc4I[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]nwkrNNeVTWk[/YOUTUBE]
Angry Little Fairy
New member
Storming album and great review sir. Anyone who says the UK didn't make quality Pop music with passion, originality and disquieting power should listen but they won't of course!
aero847.youtube
New member
Thanks guys, I'll try not to let you down
If I don't get the first review up later today, definitely sometime over the weekend.
If I don't get the first review up later today, definitely sometime over the weekend.
Lithium09xox
New member
Bull, I don't suppose you might review Mark Hollis's solo album as a bonus after getting through this discog. would ya? imp:
imp:pineapplepower
New member
Funnily enough, I was only thinking about that a minute ago. You're on :thumb: Tim Friese-Greene's done a few things solo too, so provided I can get hold of them, I'll throw those in as well.
9/10 chance I'm off out tonight, but I've got a long, football-free day ahead of me tomorrow, so I'll do my utmost to get the first review up then.
9/10 chance I'm off out tonight, but I've got a long, football-free day ahead of me tomorrow, so I'll do my utmost to get the first review up then.
Pr-T Filipina
New member
I saw a Talk Talk gig from 86 on Sky Arts 1 recently, they were touring The Colour of Spring at the time of the gig. I only knew the obvious songs by them like Talk Talk and its my life before i watched it, I didnt realize they were such a great live band and i didnt know they had so many great songs. Definately worth a watch, you know what Skys like it'll be repeated a bazillion times before the end of the month.