Anticipation is the first word that comes to mind when I listen to Spirit of Eden. It feels to me like something is coming over the hill or around the corner; something all eerie and mysterious and unknown. This music drips from the sky like rain into the basin that is 80's pop music. Talk Talk were a British band that had a few hits like It's My Life; kinda synthy with goofy vocals; most 80's music. But in 1988, Talk Talk decided to just say no to all that silly business and craft an absolute jewel of an album that is religious, environmentalist, and poetic as balls. Apparently, the band, fronted by singer Mark Hollis, realized that they'd made enough money playing synth pop to go out and get incredible studio musicians to just improvise until they had the songs. EMI gave them a blank check and Talk Talk went out and bought a bunch of candles to record the whole thing in the dark. EMI dropped them, none the less. I feel like I haven't said anything about the music yet, but it's so difficult to describe their perfect timbre. Maybe, heaven almost? Six beautiful songs about hope and oboes. Filled with jazz, classical, and experimental influences; sunny dispositions mixed with deeply personal statements. Was this definitive of the 80's and its hedonistic glory? No. This was ahead of the game by a country mile. We're maybe just starting to get there now, yet Spirit of Eden will remain a beacon of hope springing eternal.
Talk Talk - Spirit of Eden
Anticipation is the first word that comes to mind when I listen to Spirit of Eden. It feels to me like something is coming over the hill or around the corner; something all eerie and mysterious and unknown. This music drips from the sky like rain into the basin that is 80's pop music. Talk Talk were a British band that had a few hits like It's My Life; kinda synthy with goofy vocals; most 80's music. But in 1988, Talk Talk decided to just say no to all that silly business and craft an absolute jewel of an album that is religious, environmentalist, and poetic as balls. Apparently, the band, fronted by singer Mark Hollis, realized that they'd made enough money playing synth pop to go out and get incredible studio musicians to just improvise until they had the songs. EMI gave them a blank check and Talk Talk went out and bought a bunch of candles to record the whole thing in the dark. EMI dropped them, none the less. I feel like I haven't said anything about the music yet, but it's so difficult to describe their perfect timbre. Maybe, heaven almost? Six beautiful songs about hope and oboes. Filled with jazz, classical, and experimental influences; sunny dispositions mixed with deeply personal statements. Was this definitive of the 80's and its hedonistic glory? No. This was ahead of the game by a country mile. We're maybe just starting to get there now, yet Spirit of Eden will remain a beacon of hope springing eternal.
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