Talk Talk: Spirit of Eden Vinyl Reissue

At any given party or get-together we've all been asked "What's your favorite album?" For me it's an impossible question, but honestly, if I truly had to choose ten records to take to the grave with me as a document of who I was as a human, two of them would be Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock by Talk Talk. The band had had some significant success prior to these two releases, and most notably with the singles "It's My Life", and "Life's What You Make It", the latter even appearing in a Michelob beer commercial.

After 1986's The Colour of Spring, which still had at least most of the material firmly rooted in the New Romantic column, the band holed up with engineer Phill Brown [Tape Op #12] to create what many believe to be the first of Talk Talk's two musical masterpieces. You can (and probably should!) read about the making of these albums in Phill's Book, Are We Still Rolling?, and of course, if you have not heard these fantastic records, dig in. The depth of emotional content on these releases is both staggering and heart-breaking. They are incredible documents of a band's development as songwriters and players, and Mark Hollis' haunting and tortured voice cuts straight to the center of your soul.
Much to my delight, Parlaphone Records has just released a new half-speed master vinyl version of Spirit of Eden. The record was cut on an extensively modified Neumann VMS-80, consisting of an improved SX74 cutter head with ceramic feedback coils and new magnetics, and an upgraded pitch control system. The result is a wonderful sounding experience that fills the room with all of the album's dynamics and details. Side two of Spirit of Eden captures in three songs ("Inheritance", "I Believe in You" and "Wealth"), a journey of quiet despair and resignation, to hope and renewal. It will forever be one of my favorite sides of music.