Talk Talk (every album, every song)

In this era of lavish box sets and extravagant vinyl reissues, the sheer economy of Talk Talk’s output feels terrific, refreshing and just right. During the group’s ten-year lifespan, they released just five studio albums, but in the process, redefined contemporary music and spawned a whole new movement that would come to be known as ‘post rock’, influencing legions of bands in their wake, including the likes of Elbow, Mogwai and Sigur Rós. Leader Mark Hollis’s determination to carry out his musical vision would see the group mutate from a synth-pop/new romantic outfit moulded in the shadow of Duran Duran, into the most determinedly unique and unclassifiable art pop act of the late 20th century. More than 30 years later, the group’s astonishing last three albums are still blowing minds and being studiously examined by those who seek to break their mysterious code. This book examines the whole of Talk Talk’s oeuvre song by song, telling their bizarre and somewhat unlikely story along the way as we cast light on the essence of the group through their work. While a book on this compelling band necessarily discusses the tortured genius of singer/guitarist/writer Mark Hollis, it also casts light on the surprising après-Talk Talk careers of foundational members Lee Harris and Paul Webb as well as that of producer/keyboardist Tim Friese-Greene.