If you ask anyone about Talk Talk, most would label them as "an 80s synth-pop band", but little do they know that it's untrue. With lyrics often articulated as "haunting" by many, Talk Talk's frontman and musical visionary Mark Hollis endeavoured to be the creator of music that didn't restrict itself to just one genre but embody the best of all styles. Talk Talk would be among one of the few bands who couldn't care less about commercial success and embraced their passion for making music that broke barriers. Starting out as makers of synth-pop in 1981 with their debut album, "The Party's Over", the band redefined their approach to music with each record and ended up pioneering what is known today as "post-rock" through "Spirit of Eden" (1988) and "Laughing Stock" (1991). Consisting of Mark Hollis on vocals, Lee Harris on drums, Paul Webb on bass guitar and Simon Brenner on keyboards, you should not be missing out on their discography this summer!
The age of
the new-wave music saw the rise of this English band, standing alongside their
contemporaries The Police, The Smiths, The Cure, Elvis
Costello, New Order, Talking Heads, Depeche
Mode, Duran Duran and so on. You can't link Talk Talk to a
unique vibe, they happen to possess many of such. Upon listening to their
discography, you can't categorise them. The usual habit of the bestowment of a
specific vibe or sensation to a band is not possible when you listen to these
guys. The first track on their debut album, 'Talk Talk' (named after the band
itself), which opens with Hollis' energetic cries of "Hey!" contrasts
with the title track from the second album, "It's My Life" in musical
quality. Both tracks are characterised by a fresh sound and the subject matter
of "an unfaithful lover" coupled with sound engineering that's on
point. 'It's My Life', arguably described as one of the best songs by the band
encompasses distinct moods within the song. As the song nears its chorus,
there's a certain calmness followed by some excitement, and during the chorus,
Hollis just sounds very angry. The music video of 'It's My
Life' is revolutionary. Unlike the usual and normal lip-syncing videos of the
time, it composes of various footages of wild animals shot in the London zoo
with Hollis gracing the screen occasionally, refusing to lip-sync. Even the Discovery
Channel would pale in comparison.
To give an
enriched detail of their sound, I asked three people (Pooja, Aarcha, Stefan) to
listen to them and furnish their opinions. After listening to Talk Talk for the
first time, Pooja said, "Each song has a totally different music
composition, the instruments and stuff, which changes the vibe." Each
album flaunts a different sound. The first two albums were marked by a very
poppy sound while the third album, "The
Colour of Spring" (1986) saw their divergence from their usual tone,
and it also ended up being the group's best-selling album ever! Mark Hollis
wanted their music to speak for itself and was uncomfortable with the
widespread acknowledgement and acclaim that they amassed owing to their hits: 'It's My Life' and 'Such a Shame'. The group strived to be more experimental
afterwards and the last two albums, "Spirit
of Eden" and "Laughing
Stock" marked a radical transition from earlier albums and confused
the fans and critics alike.
Unconventional
music groups like this come by rarely and when asked about Talk Talk, music
enthusiast Stefan says: "They obviously have a thing for rhythm. I mean,
it's crazy how they get away with such open songs. There's a lot of space. It's
not packed, you know. They sound like Boney M if they were an English band that
had sad faces and lived down the street from Joy Division or something." I
must say that I've never heard anyone describe the band in such a creative way.
He continues, "Sometimes you listen to a track like I Don't
Believe in You and you hear sustain and reverb and you're like what?
But even in those tracks there are elements of staccato." He also adds
that he finds their music “dramatic”.
As a usual
listener to music that spans the classic era, Aarcha describes Talk Talk's
music as very refreshing and says, "Their music is a go-to if you're bored
of listening to usual songs. There's something new that pops up with every Talk
Talk song. Like, their style is fresh." After having pioneered a new
genre, Hollis released a self-titled solo album in 1998 and disappeared from
public view; the band ceased to exist. Hollis chose family over fame, remarking
that he couldn't balance both stardom and his familial responsibilities at the
same time. Often praised for being a band that wasn't swept away from its
creativity by commercial pressure, they left behind a legacy that possibly
cannot be replicated.
Songs to start with: Talk Talk, Today, Mirror Man, Dum Dum Girl, Renee, It's You, Such a Shame, It's My Life, Life's What You Make It, Living in Another World, Give It Up, The Rainbow, Desire, Ascension Day, New Grass
Abhirami M G
About Abhirami MG: Abhirami M G is a BA Honours student in English, who is extremely enthusiastic when it comes to classic rock. She enjoys reading and has a penchant for history and science fiction. She hopes to pursue a Masters in Anthropology and is an avid Netflix binge-watcher.
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