Date: Fri, 19 Jun 1998 16:22:51 -0700 From: Ryan Hicks Subject: Re: Mark Hollis Reply to: RE>Mark Hollis Okay, I need some help. There's been a whole lot of in-talk [talk?] about Mark Hollis but I don't know who he is. Could someone/people let me in on him? Why/what is he know for? What are some good introductions to his work? If you'll dance about architecture then take a stab at writing about his music. etc Thanks, Christian Mark Hollis is the main guy (correct me though, my Talk Talk history = isn't fully squared) of the 80's band Talk Talk. First three albums went = from Duran Duran to more obscure pop. The last two, often mentioned here = with glowing hearts and misty eyes, were a far cry from what the pop = world had hoped for, thus securing the integrity and obscurity of the = work. Every quality of those 2 albums is drenched in honesty, space, and a = vision only few could hope to acheive in their artistic pursuits. An = atmospheric sense of sound and story orchestrates harmonica and strings = and horns and brilliant guitar playing into six very long songs on each = album. Recorded very richly, no subtlty is lost in any of the utterences = of the players. A subtle breath of trumpet may be the only phrase for = several moments. If you can find either Spirit of Eden or Laughing Stock, get them, both = are rare now. Someone on this list a while back said that Spirit of Eden = could break even the most hardened man down to tears. Absolutley. As for = the first Talk Talk records, I don't know. I had a cassette of Colour of = Spring, a good album certainly and one with the most hints of the = direction the band would be about to take, but I haven't listened to it = in ten years... This is music to honor and cherish. I just today plopped my hard earned = $30 on Hollis' solo record. No consolation needed, really. Like meeting = someone who effects you so wholly that you have been forever changed by = the experience, Hollis' music is so infectous. You await the day to = behold the chance to meet again. Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 00:08:43 -0700 From: geoff chadsey Subject: Re: ryan's list Some response, some more listing (all over the map): I've been doing my own marathon sessions between work and studio. Chris Palacios lent me Talk Talk's Spirit of Eden, which I am slowly but assuredly falling in deep love with; this, as well as the follow up, Laughing Stock. So nice to hear music that takes its sweet time, and then rewards you with soulful lyric and blasts of harmonica and organ...