Talk Talk "Spirit of Eden"

For anyone who knows me musically, it's common knowledge that I frequently call Talk Talk's sublime 1988 release "Spirit of Eden" as one of the greatest musical masterpieces ever made for moody, ambient music.  The crazy part is how the band Talk Talk, who started out sounding more like early Duran Duran and was labeled as "synth pop", somehow got to this sound and album, and all within only 4 albums spanning about 6 years.  They are now widely regarded as originating the musical movement later known as "post rock", a genre which really didn't take off for another decade by bands such as Sigur Ros, Godspeed You Black Emperor, and so on.

Oddly, I actually purchased "Spirit of Eden" on a whim at Zia Records back in late '88 for a whopping $2.99, used on vinyl, with having not owned nor heard any other Talk Talk albums nor really being a fan.  I remember putting in on one day and really liking it, although it completely blew my mind because I was expecting something very different, definitely something more upbeat.  "Spirit of Eden" didn't really have any singles, although "I Believe in You" later did get a bit of treatment, but when the album was released there wasn't any airplay or MTV video to accompany it.  Therefore, I went into the album completely blind and it was hard to get my mind around at the time.  I was also all of 17 or 18 years old and probably not quite ready for this mellow, mood based music, and I ended up selling the vinyl very early on, probably having listened to the album in the background all of two times.

It wasn't until the follow up album, Talk Talk's very last record called "Laughing Stock" in 1991, that I remembered "Spirit of Eden".  This was back in the days when Tower Records put out the wonderful free magazine "Pulse!" which I picked up religiously.  I remember that there was a full page ad about "Laughing Stock" in it, and it was then that I had an, "...oh yeah...I forgot about them..." moment.  The ad ran with critic's reviews stating that "Laughing Stock" was one of the most beautiful albums of the year and so I dove in head first buying that album on CD.  I'm not sure what exactly provoked me to do so but I guess I was just in the right frame of mind.  It quickly became one of my favorite albums and will undoubtedly show up in this blog at some point as well.

It was maybe a year later, after listening to "Laughing Stock" over and over, that I ventured out and purchased "Spirit of Eden" finally on CD, my preferred listening medium.  It was a hard album to find because there was no American release so it was import only.  This also made it rather expensive, possibly around the $25 range.  I recall the first time I put it on, late at night in my small apartment, putting the lights down very low or maybe lighting some candles.  I had remembered the overall mood of the album but nothing too terribly specific, and therefore it was like hearing it for the first time.  Once the album ended, I remember sitting in silence, completely dumbfounded, partially by what I had just heard and also embarrassed that I didn't give the album the full attention it deserved when I originally bought it on vinyl.

From here, the argument reigned for years and still does, sort of, the argument of which album is better, "Spirit of Eden" or "Laughing Stock".  To this day, I really can't decide.  I often choose the split decision of saying that "Spirit of Eden" is the better album but "Laughing Stock" is my favorite.  Yeah, it's a cop out, I know.  In truth, I can't imagine not having either album and almost think of them as a single unit since they're quite similar.

Musically, "Spirit of Eden" especially influenced me and I recall immediately working on some new songs in what I perceived at the time of being in the same vein.  I have a very soft spot in my heart for this sound, and even though it's considered post rock, I feel that it kind of lives in its own space.  When Mark Hollis passed away a number of years ago, my heart ached since that meant we'd never get any more music from him or Talk Talk as a unit, and I always put them on the top of my list as the band I'd most like to see get back together and tour.

It's hard to actually discuss "Spirit of Eden" since the first 3 tracks, half the album, mind you, really play as one long song.  In short, it's the most amazing and gorgeous piece of music Talk Talk ever produced, in my opinion at least, and "The Rainbow" especially is simply sublime.  The jazz infused elements and the strange muted guitar mixed with distorted harmonica are simply genius elements, and Hollis' subdued vocals are the perfect compliment.  I would argue that these three tracks together are some of the greatest pieces of music I've ever heard and I can't even imagine composing something so full of mood and imagery.

Side 2 is where "Spirit of Eden" lags slightly but it's literally slight.  It's just a different mood versus Side 1, and the fact that the tracks don't blend together changes the vibe a bit.  Side 2 is what has always made me personally lean more "Laughing Stock" because I don't think I'd change a thing on that album, but having said that the pieces on that album are not as strong as the "The Rainbow/Eden/Desire" combo.  Therein lies the dilemma in choosing between the two albums.

Coupled with yet another piece of art by the same artist that drew all of Talk Talk's album covers, "Spirit of Eden" may have been unmarketable at the time, and it certainly took quite awhile for it to earn the accolades that it so deserved, but it has climbed to masterpiece status over the last 2 decades amongst real music lovers.  If you've never heard it, I can't recommend it enough.  It's a necessary album to have in your collection, provided it's a sound that appeals to you.  And, of course, if you do end up loving the album, certainly get your hands on "Laughing Stock" as well.