As 1980s pop myths go, the story of Talk Talk is one of the most mysterious. Graeme Thomson’s new book, In Another World – The Four Seasons of Talk Talk, digs deep into the story of the Mark Hollis fronted group who went from glossy synth-pop chart botherers over their first two albums before creating some of the most sublime musical meditations of their era. Over three albums – The Colour of Spring (1986), Spirit of Eden (1988) and Laughing Stock (1991) – Talk Talk’s core trio of Hollis, bassist Paul Webb and drummer Lee Harris, plus producer Tim Friese-Greene, created a series of lushly crafted and increasingly insular soundscapes before disappearing for good. An eponymous stripped back 1998 solo album by Hollis hinted at things to come. As it turned out, it was a last gift to the world before he withdrew from music entirely. The silence of all band members increased the Talk Talk legend, while the death of Hollis in 2019 aged sixty-four put a full stop on a group that e...
An archive of arts writing by Neil Cooper. Effete No Obstacle.