Talk Talk - Laughing Stock
The entrance of a voice can instantly locate any piece of music, whatever its inherent character, in a space wholly determined by the character of the voice. The music practically becomes an afterthought.
Compare Talk Talk to Gastr Del Sol. It would take a little convincing, but if Laughing Stock featured David Grubbs on vocals it could pass as a post Camofleur GDS album. “New Grass” sounds like Tortoise mixed with Oval; the way “Myrrhman” sits loosely in its music, Grubbs could start sing-talking at any moment.
The second Mark Hollis opens his mouth, Talk Talk becomes a band of the 80’s, a new wave, glam-rock, pop-music creature which just happens to have wandered into a hostile environment.
The music becomes very much like what I occasionally try to imagine Cher makes when she’s out of the spotlight, kicking back with her free jazz quartet. Of course you can see why a band like U2 avoids taking this direction in public. Talk Talk made this wildly mutated, beautiful chimera, but of course they sacrificed their reputation among casual listeners.
7 months ago
