Talk Talk and the guitar
I've always been a big fan of Talk Talk's last three albums (Colour of Spring, 1986, Spirit of Eden 1988, and Laughing Stock 1991). They're some of my favorite records ever.
As a (amateur) musician, I've always struggled with their subsequent influence on music. I don't know why I use the phrase "struggle with". They seem so important, and potentially influential, but when musicians reference them as an influence, I'm usually really excited, and then when I hear the actual music, I'm a disappointed, and feel like the influenced musician "missed the point" (as I hear it, mind you!) of Talk Talk.
I recently discovered Jim on Youtube from Princeton amp reviews, and then a related video (the long Honeyfingers show from Sep 2013) and was knocked out. So I thought I'd start with his most recent record, Dream Dictionary. I could spend a lot of time talking about how great I think that record is, and why. But for purposes of keeping this somewhat focused, I want to talk about Talk Talk.
I loved the record so I thought I'd read a bit more and found this article: http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/19981-jim-campilongo-dreams-and-definition .
In it, Jim mentions Spirit of Eden (and Silent Way, another favorite of mine!). Then this weekend I was listening to Dream Dictionary (pretty loud) and Alana came on, and I thought about the article, and I thought, "a-ah"! Suddenly, I could practically hear Mark Hollis' ghostly, bluesy voice singing over it. It was an amazing moment. The guitar chords and notes were just suspended in thin air. The interplay between drums, bass, and the guitar all contributing to this feeling of suspension. It was really something.
After hearing about Talk Talk being the godfathers of post-rock, and never really hearing that, I feel like I finally heard something that really moved their sound forward after 25 years.
Thanks for your patience. This being a discussion forum, I guess I'd like to ask a question for those still with me, but I can't really think of one. I guess any thoughts on this are welcome. Any records similar to Talk Talk, Miles Davis' Silent Way (or Filles De Kilimanjaro), that are your favorites?
As a (amateur) musician, I've always struggled with their subsequent influence on music. I don't know why I use the phrase "struggle with". They seem so important, and potentially influential, but when musicians reference them as an influence, I'm usually really excited, and then when I hear the actual music, I'm a disappointed, and feel like the influenced musician "missed the point" (as I hear it, mind you!) of Talk Talk.
I recently discovered Jim on Youtube from Princeton amp reviews, and then a related video (the long Honeyfingers show from Sep 2013) and was knocked out. So I thought I'd start with his most recent record, Dream Dictionary. I could spend a lot of time talking about how great I think that record is, and why. But for purposes of keeping this somewhat focused, I want to talk about Talk Talk.
I loved the record so I thought I'd read a bit more and found this article: http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/19981-jim-campilongo-dreams-and-definition .
In it, Jim mentions Spirit of Eden (and Silent Way, another favorite of mine!). Then this weekend I was listening to Dream Dictionary (pretty loud) and Alana came on, and I thought about the article, and I thought, "a-ah"! Suddenly, I could practically hear Mark Hollis' ghostly, bluesy voice singing over it. It was an amazing moment. The guitar chords and notes were just suspended in thin air. The interplay between drums, bass, and the guitar all contributing to this feeling of suspension. It was really something.
After hearing about Talk Talk being the godfathers of post-rock, and never really hearing that, I feel like I finally heard something that really moved their sound forward after 25 years.
Thanks for your patience. This being a discussion forum, I guess I'd like to ask a question for those still with me, but I can't really think of one. I guess any thoughts on this are welcome. Any records similar to Talk Talk, Miles Davis' Silent Way (or Filles De Kilimanjaro), that are your favorites?
Comments
http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/storefront/2013/11/jim-campilongo-tvd-first-date/
"Spirit of Eden, Talk Talk | Released in 1988, Talk Talk was the nucleus of songwriters Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Greene. This has to be one the most patient pop records ever conceived, and every few years I check back to it. Atmospheric intros build to a climax conceived with a smart craftsmanship.
Distorted guitars, emotive vocals, and a raging innovative harmonica (reminding us, it’s not the harmonica we don’t like, it’s the person attached to it!)"
Thanks for finding that link, I was proud of the article http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/storefront/2013/11/jim-campilongo-tvd-first-date/ and yes, I really love that "Talk Talk" record.
I'm flattered you heard any similarity on "Alana" from Dream Dictionary because the production on "Spirit..." is masterful. We were simply playing live in a big room...
Anyway- thanks again for the post. It's raining out and it's dark- I'm going to put "Spirit of Eden" right now!
All the best- Jim