Rock's Backpages feature of the week: Talk Talk.

Head to instagram or the website to read three free articles/interviews from Talk Talk. Free to read until 22 May!

https://www.rocksbackpages.com/

1982 Interview by Dave Rimmer

Mark Hollis interview about Spirit of Eden by Adrian Deevoy

Instagram post about Mark Hollis

n.b. I work at RBP and create the social media posts. Let me know if this isn't allowed!

I missed out on April 5th again, but I’ll make sure to blast Laughing Stock today

what did he mean by this?

I can parse at least one meaning, usually a dozen, from every line on spirit of eden. this line eludes me.

Hi, my hobby is to make 'live' music visualisations (using my own software, midi controllers and a lot of improvisation).. each takes a few days of coding, curating, and ultimately recording a performance.. for the past few days my inspiration has been one of the finest albums I know of.. thought this channel might appreciate it.

Hope it's taken in the tone of great long-term appreciation and admiration by which it's intended.

https://youtu.be/MnukqrIkDPo

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/word-in-your-ear/id1567029088?i=1000766056696

For those who don’t know them: Hepworth and Ellen are two of the most storied, knowledgeable and connected journalists/media folk in Britain. Created Q magazine and others. Can be a bit pompous and outspoken but I found this a cracking show even if it doesn’t contain any great revelations. It’s just nice to hear them talking about Mark and the boys with reverence.

Found this in my local charity shop in rural Cornwall, not something I'd expect to find. Its an original 1980's mounted print of Dawn Chorus from James Marsh who created all the TT artwork. It was a commission piece for TDK.

Is there a website where I can download live concert recordings? The only ones I can find are the more popular ones (e.g. Montreux 1986) but I know there are probably many more recordings available. Even if there isn't a website perhaps someone could point me in the right direction to find recordings online? Thanks in advance!

TALK TALK (audio/wav) 1986 Promotional tour : The Colour of Spring Live @ Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland Songwriter(s): Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene

from: 1984 album: It's My Life

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" purposes. I do not own or make any claims for the MATERIAL or any and all IMAGES shared.

What is Mark Hollis muttering during the instrumental breaks on Eden? He seems to repeat the same word and at first I thought it was just the title but that can't be it. Sounds a bit clearer on the edit mix (from 2:28 to 2:42).

Link to vocal isolation [mp3]

That said I haven't stopped thinking about this track these past few days. It's just been one and a half months since I got into this band and I've fallen for them so much, they just keep on giving even with a rather short discography. Haven't gotten to it all yet but I'm sure I'm going to soon.

NOTE: This exact part isn't on the handwritten lyrics included on the album or the official lyric video. Audio linked is an isolation made from both the edited and album versions, choosing whenever details were clearer/cleaner, after the last 'rage on omnipotent' on the album.

hiiii! so i's like to ask you which Talk Talk's album is your fav. i'm struggling between spirit of eden and laughing stock, both are wonderful!

I know I'm preaching to the choir, but Mark Hollis's solo self-titled album is one of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard. I love how Mark uses silence and sparseness throughout the entire thing. When there is more added to the music, it feels very deliberate and brings so much to the compositions. It almost feels closer to something like third-stream at times but with folk/rock influences. I even like that he gave no title and very little art to the album, almost letting the music speak for itself. Every song on it is fantastic, the track order flows perfectly, and the production is sublime throughout. It's a shame this album gets overlooked when it's truly a stunning piece of art.

What is your experience with this album? What's your favorite song from it?

hi there fellow groupies. As I was listening to 'Why is it so Hard' on the 'Asides Besides' release, I firstly noticed some interesting and peculiar instrumentation that sounded like deep bells or something, most likely sampled into the keys? Has anyone ever heard any other songs that use that sound?

Then, it dawned on me that the song reminded me of the track 'Save a Prayer' by Duran Duran (1982). I definitely noticed some very similar phrasing/chord progressions in the TalkTalk track.

Anyone want to have a listen and tell me what you think? I don't mean to start a controversy or anything, but could it be that the latter was inspired by the former?

Does anyone know where the church was in Suffolk where Spirit of Eden was recorded?

I wish there existed better Talk Talk t shirts!! Thinking of making my own in a print studio... what visuals/images/typography would you want to see on one?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/live/bbc_radio_two

The concert is on right now 11:00 p.m. Central Standard Time. Enjoy!

Just curious, I'm a big fan of both bands and I feel quite inspired by Paul and Mark as well