Talk Talk Album: “The Colour of Spring”

"Colour of Spring" is joyous and yet introspective at the same time, it would be one of my "desert island" discs. (If you were stranded on a desert island, what records would you want to have with you?)

One of the fascinating things about this album is the engineering/production. If you have a good pair of headphones, or better still, a really nice sound system, this album will bring you lots of pleasure. For example, on "Happiness is Easy" there's a beautful children's chorus who's stereo image is about 100 feet wide. At the same time, there's a very closely miked accoustic bass, you can almost feel the pluck and bowing of the strings. In "Living in Another World", which really rocks out, there's a great blues-y acoustic piano. The piano sounds like you're right inside the damn thing, listening to the hammers hit the strings. Right along side it is the beautiful thunk thunk thunk of an acoustic drum.

Some people don't like this album because its too "ponderous". I have never felt that way. There's always a compelling pulse in each song. There are great "hooks". Mark Hollis' voice is beautiful, and the melodies are very captivating. But the thing that really elevates this album for me is all the subtle details that you may not pick up on the first few times you listen to it. I found that even after playing it over and over again for months, I was still finding new little sonic wonders hidden here and there in the music. I would highly recommend this disc, especially to artists and musicians.

More of a preface to their later albums than a reprise of their earlier work, "Colour of Spring" shines very brightly. Every single track is gorgeous, and the sound quality in the remastered version is a noticeable improvement over an already good original recording. If you want to get into talk talk, this is the album that I would recommend. "Happiness is Easy" and "Life's What You Make It" are two very accessible cuts that made into college and late night radio back in the second half of the 80s. The rest of the album is equally brilliant, and on the whole it can serve as a good introduction to "Spirit of Eden" and "Laughing Stock", their later, more challenging albums. The introspective, atmospheric, and sometimes atonal, evolution of the band's music can be foreseen here. I would bet that, if you get this, you'll be hooked and will want more. Don't be afraid to make the move and go for their later stuff: it's pure genius!

I'll keep it short. I bought the TAPE in 1986 in Kodiak Alaska as a blind purchase. I was really lucky. I have been listing for 17 years now and needed to replace the tape with the CD. You won't be disapointed.

To the reviewer who said this album was mostly unknown outside the circle of Talk Talk aficionados, you're in luck! I hadn't even HEARD of the band until I saw this album mentioned in an interview of Rick Wright, Pink Floyd's keyboardist. On a lark I decided to give it a try--and sure enough, his taste proved extraordinary.

"The simplicity of the songs and Mark Hollis's voice make this album just incredible," Mr. Wright had explained to Record Collector magazine. "The first tune, 'Happiness Is Easy', says it all--nothing but a bass, a snare and a weird chord. That's Talk Talk all over, great songs and simplicity with a twist ... Why does it touch me? Hard to say, but it's got the feelgood factor, which all my favourite records have..."

From the second I heard the opening to "Happiness is Easy", I knew every word of Mr. Wright's was dead-on accurate. "Colour of Spring" is indeed a most appropriate title--I immediately felt a sense of gentle, uplifting power coming from the music. Although pensive, sometimes even sad in the lyrics at times, he does not go overboard with it. Mr. Hollis' voice becomes like a musical instrument in its own right, mingling perfectly with the open, never overpowering musical arrangements.

Particularly striking about this album are the Hammond organ played by Steve Winwood, which floats gently in the background and provides each track is atmosphere. The acoustic guitar and piano seem to dance gracefully in and out of the songs. Overall, Colour of Spring is incredibly soothing, but without putting the listener to sleep. This is the perfect album to unwind from a stressful day, and definitely a recommendation worth listening to!

COLOUR OF SPRING is an album that pushes all the limits of pop music to extreme beauty ; the sound has a complex structure so well composed that you might wonder if this music was done by an ordinary bunch of artists ; COLOUR OF SPRING has depth , atmosphere in it ; you get the feeling that the sound is coming from the ground and echoeing in the air : IT IS THE PERFECT ALBUM TO GET YOU OUTSIDE YOUR ROOM AND YOUR BODY !!!

By buying this album you will be offering yourself 45 minutes of pure ecstasy !!!