Entertainment For Lively Minds
Where the devil are Talk Talk / Mark Hollis
There has now been well over a decade since Mark Hollis released his last record. I wondered if the massive had any knowledge of when a follow up may be due.
My theory is that as his albums grew increasingly uncompromising, the only way forward was complete silence.
For the record, I loved Spirit of Eden, which is one of my favourite albums of all time and a key example of an album which takes numerous listens to appreciate..
Laughing Stock, I like, but have never gotten into in the same way as Spirit (maybe it requires even more listens to appreciate). The solo album, I have to say, was a bridge too far for me, but I’m still curious as to what Mr Hollis is up to (presumably enjoying the royalties from that No Doubt cover version)
- More from walker182.
- Login or register to post comments
-
Love Talk Talk...
..from their flouncy new romantic beginings and on.
But my fave is "The Colour of Spring" which always gets ignored. Anyone got any theories why?
Apart from finding the music industry to his
taste and not wanting to turn this in OK or Bella I believe Mr Hollis has had personal problems of various kinds that have detained him since his last record.
I don't believe you
There is no evidence to support anything other than the story that he's just retired from recording. I think he achieved all he set out to do, and just stopped. I think he studied classical composition. His brother Ed Hollis had well-known problems and I think sometimes folks attribute these to MH.
Talk Talk /Mark Hollis
This thread sheds a little light on the subject:
http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/mark-hollis-genius
They were marvellous.
This thread as
This thread as well
http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/like-babbages-clockwork-computer-c...
No sign of a follow-up album after 12 years. Hollis was last spotted in public in late 2005 when he got the BMI's 'Song of the Year' award for It's My Life - he's not aged *too* badly!
http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/234221
I worked at Polydor..
...when Spirit of Eden was released. I'd absolutely loved The Colour of Spring and was thrilled to get my hands on the new album. Just as exciting was Hollis's attendance at the annual PolyGram sales conference, taking place that year in, I think, Bournemouth.
He came and sat on the table I was at, shades glued to face, gaze pointed rugwards. I couldn't resist:
Me: Hi Mark, love the new album. What a piece of work.
MH: Oh, yeah... Thanks.
Me: What have you been doing since you finished recording?
MH: Urrr... Some fantastic Thai stick, mainly. Got any weed?
As the man himself said
mark hollis
his only solo album wa a masterpiece in recording the ambient sounds in the studio, giving a real warm 'in the room' feeling to the album. David Sylvian's recent Manafon was also a great album that challenges what a recording can sound like and not be pidgeon-holed into familiar genres... heck i must have a lie-down after that bit of Wire-style prose! but seriously, i hope mr hollis is still working tentatively on a follow up, as he's one of me fave's!
The curse of
naming your band with two four letter words beginning with T. :(
Interesting that David Sylvian's name crops up..
...whenever Hollis is mentioned. A friend of mine and I used to do a joke routine when I was younger in which one of us would pretend to be Sylvian and the other Hollis. We would always put on these rather pompus thespian accents (ironic considering that neither musician was from a particularly priveliged background) and discuss names of imaginary albums - which were typically parodies of Japan's more pretentious song titles. I can understand the comparison – given that both were notable for shunning 80s pop stardom in favour of more experimental pursuits. But I always felt that Hollis had a more naturalistic style – singing from his heart, while Sylvian was always more studied..
Mark Hollis' absence is CRIMINAL
The author mentioned that Spirit of Eden was his favorite, Laughing Stock less so, and Mark's solo even less. I have the opposite opinion. As background, I listened to Talk Talk in the day, loved It's My Life & Colour of Spring. When Spirit of Eden came out, I hated it. I bought Laughing Stock too and hated it as well. This is all in the late 80's mind you. I was living in Austin, Texas at the time and gave up on Talk Talk (the Pixies were in their full upward trajectory at the time). I never even heard about Mark's solo album or if I did, I ignored it. Now, 20 years later, I live in Seattle, Washington, a much more introspective locale. A good music friend of mine asked if I had heard Mark Hollis. I hadn't so he sent me a copy. Absolutely incredible. I had to distance myself from Talk Talk's earlier work in order to appreciate the brilliance that is Mark's solo work and Talk Talk's Laughing Stock & Spirit of Eden. Laughing Stock is now just about the only Talk Talk I can listen to, but Spirit of Eden is a close second. After the Flood, New Grass ,The Rainbow, Eden. Transcendent and spiritual. Mark's solo work is equally as good if not BETTER, Watershed, The Gift, A Life (1895-1915), The Daily Planet.
Mr. Hollis, it is criminal that we are made to endure the likes of pop "music" these days in the absence of your genius. You are obviously driven to follow your own path and to make music because you HAVE to, and we are all the better for it. Make an album and release it on your own!!!!! Put up a website and make it downloadable only. Whatever it takes. We are here waiting for you. Please don't put your light under a bushel. Tell me when it's ready ;) StephenRoss98026@yahoo.com