Talk Talk on Radio 4

Just found this and having a listen.

Guy Garvey explores the mystery surrounding Talk Talk, their reclusive leader Mark Hollis, and the album, Spirit of Eden.

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thanks james_n sounds interesting

Top find thanks @james_n

Have you seen the interview with MH in 1998? About an hour long. I found it v interesting

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I listened to this earlier. Very good indeed and well worth 30 minutes of anybody’s time.

Having read Phill Brown’s book a while back the album nearly drove him mad.

But what a masterpiece - I remember buying Spirit of Eden on it’s release day and thinking this is something else.

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Great find, thanks for posting!

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Enjoyed that. Thankyou.
RIP Mark

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I remember buying it and thinking wtf is this? After the tuneful Colour of Spring this album came as quite a shock. Took me 20 years to appreciate it for the masterpiece it truly is. Laughing Stock is not too shabby either!

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Just listened to this; very good band bio in under 30 mins. I saw Talk Talk as part of the Six of the Best (ie. Genesis) supporting bill back on a very wet day at Milton Keynes Bowl in 1982 and they didn’t go down well with the prog crowd!

I remember that day too, it was certainly wet!
It may not have helped as I think they were the last act before Genesis, so some frustrated fans.

I was not a fan of Talk Talk the pop band. Colour of Spring and the last two albums changed all that for me. MH had such an amazing voice too. Simply wonderful stuff.

The solo album by Mark has also been a favourite of mine although perhaps more of an acquired taste?

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Utterly sublime @stuart.ashen the solo Holis is surreal
Martin

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Really enjoyed listening. Thanks James!

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Here is the interview which the bbc program lifts from.

It always surprises me how performers on stage presence is so distinct from non performance

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Nice one - thanks for posting that link. A fascinating watch :+1:

I listened to the next one in the series of these broadcasts - the children from the Sound of Music and where are they now.

Not a patch on the Talk Talk programme.

It’s interesting he said his solo album was recorded by just 2 fixed mics with the musicians also in fixed positions. Sounds a bit like how they recorded Cowboy Junkies Trinity Sessions although I think it was just one mic for that. Must give the MH album a critical listen and pay attention to the staging. Thanks for posting the vid. So sad he’s no longer with us and in the words of the man himself - such a shame!

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Can’t help imagining how great he would have been writing film scores… so unique in creating atmosphere, texture and organic, timeless orchestrations.

Thoroughly enjoyed listening to this the other day (first broadcast). Have checked to see if it’s (the album) on Tidal (where I recently migrated from Qobuz) but haven’t played it yet. I’ve spent 45 years in the live touring side of the music business and have always had the utmost respect for people with principles/beliefs that are governed by artistic principles not monetary gain or fame, so he very much fits the bill. Also did a one-off outdoor show with TT in the early 80s where I wasn’t the Lighting Designer and wondered whether the actual LD had ever designed before, and during the show whether he was listening to a different band on a walkman, so bad was his timing. Somewhere in Italy I think, so had a nice time despite the incompetence of the LD.

Met Guy Garvey properly for the first time in the gents of the Britons Protection pub in Manchester. Can’t remember who I was on tour with. Possibly The Darkness mid-noughties when they were at the height of their fame.At which point he wasn’t drinkng but still going to pubs with his mates. I told him I’d serviced him and his band several times and he was very gracious. Nice bloke (even though I don’t agree with his musical taste). Don’t have any idea why he had to go to AA though. Musicians on tour have a lot of free time, whereas crew are constantly busy maybe. Just a hypothesis.

When I say serviced I mean Elbow had played several times on my stage at V north festival. Not anything more physical :wink:

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