This past year has been a big one for Synthpop legends, Talk Talk. Toward the end of 2011, the band reissued their classic albums Laughing Stock and Sprit of Eden on Vinyl for the first time in a generation. The October release of Laughing Stock, rated the 11th best record of the 90′s by Pitchfork, was actually the first time it had ever been available on vinyl in the US. Meanwhile 1988′s Spirit of Eden has been an influence on bands like Mogwai, Sigur Ros, Radiohead, The Verve, Doves and Elbow.
In fact, Elbow is one of the latest bands rumored to contribute to the forthcoming Talk Talk tribute album. Spirit of Talk Talk due May 28. Other names associated include Alan Wilder (Depeche Mode, Recoil), White Lies, Zero 7, Bon Iver, Joan As Policewoman and members of Arcade Fire, Broken Social Scene, Weezer and Death Cab for Cutie covering 30 Talk Talk tunes from ‘Today’ to ‘Life’s What You Make It’ to ‘After The Flood’
Wilder had this to say about the influence of Talk Talk’s Spirit of Eden on his Recoil blog: “In direct opposition to their commercial decline, my interest in the group increased as their more avant garde leanings came to the forefront. ‘The Colour Of Spring‘ (1986) was an excellent but transitional album where one could visibly see the band mutating from well-crafted, intelligent pop into something much deeper and more thought- provoking. It reflected producer Tim Friese-Greene‘s more fluid and melodic keyboard arrangements with a far more expansive production. However, the revelation that followed – ‘Spirit of Eden’ – was still totally unexpected. This has to be one of my all-time favourite albums. Mind-blowingly brilliant in its diversity, minimalism, atmospherics, musicianship and topped off with the voice which found it’s true position floating painfully over the top (in the best possible way). Whenever I’m stumped for something to listen to, I reach for this album to restore my faith in all that is good about modern music.”
To make matters even more enticing, the Tribute album will be accompanied by a lavish book featuring commentaries on Talk Talk from fans like Guy Garvey (Elbow), Richard Wright (Pink Floyd), Karl Hyde (Underworld), Wild Beasts and James Lavelle from UNKLE. The artwork is by original Talk Talk illustrator James Marsh and the book features all manner of Mark Hollis-related delights for music lovers old and new alike to swoon over such as lost photos and handwritten lyric sheets.
The plan is for the book to incorporate a ‘Roll Of Honour’ listing the names of fans who pre-order the book, which you can do at http://www.spiritoftalktalk.com/
