Talk Talk Album: “It's My Life/Colour Of Spring/Spirit Of Eden”

Quite a steal, especially since the remastered albums are not available in the U.S. My old copies of these CD's have found a new home on the shelves at the Used CD store. These three, along with Laughing Stock (a non-EMI release, are indispensable. They cover the evolution of the band as they progressively strayed from the pop-huckster-wannabe sensibilities which dominated their self-titled debut, eventually building pieces which are more about atmosphere than recycled Duran Duran cliches. This is exactly the style of music which benefits from a top notch remastering job. I also highly recommend London 1986, a live CD from this period. Amazing that this band could not only replicate, but exceed, what was done in the studio.

For those of you who know Talk Talk only by their radio hit It's My Life, you have missed out on one of the most progressively artistic bands of the era. Their music constantly evolved with each album. The artistic depth on these albums is really worth experiencing. This collection is probably the best way to get 60% of Talk Talk's album collection at a manageable price. Here's a break down of the albums:

It's My Life - Obviously this is the album that has the hit single on it. While I can say by a margin IT'S MY LIFE is the best song on the album, it isn't the only great song on this album. This is the album where Tim Friese-Greene came into the picture and introduced some amazing musical techniques using instruments to simulate environmental noises (remember those seagull sounds on It's My Life?). Add to that some nice layers of instruments and you get songs that you can really lose yourself in. SUCH A SHAME and IT'S YOU are aggressive sounding. TOMORROW STARTED and RENEE are dark and moody with themes similar to Talk Talk's first album. Then you have fun songs like the reggae vibe in DOES CAROLINE KNOW and THE LAST TIME. All in all a very lush range of moods and music.

The Colour of Spring - Here the band starts moving away from the new wave/new romantic synth-pop genre and into something much more progressive and ambient. The switch to a more acoustic sound actually fits in very well with the band's sensibilities. LIFE'S WHAT YOU MAKE IT is the Phil Collins-esque anthem song that hits heavy with the drums and guitar (great song to get your night on the town started) and LIVING IN ANOTHER WORLD is a big as life number with a more upbeat tempo. You also get songs that play up the instrumental ambience with HAPPINESS IS EASY and CHAMELEON DAY. All in all I consider this album Talk Talk's best.

Spirit of Eden - This album is a pretty big departure from any album they did previously. It's very avantgarde and ambient with it's intense focus on subtle sound textures and dynamic range. I admit this album isn't for everybody. However I BELIEVE IN YOU is still a very approachable and laid back song and DESIRE gives you a nice double play by being laid back and then very aggressive all in one song.

I'm rather picky with my music, and when I see the words "remastered" I expect some real remastering. Many remasters don't do much more than adjust the midrange and kick up the overal volume (original recordings done back in the 80's called for a boosted midrange to get a better sound out of vinyl records). Not so in this collection. While the improvemements vary from CD to CD it is to be sure that what you are getting a true remastering of the original source.

Of all the albums on this collection I believe It's My Life benefits the most with the new remastering. This album was the one mastered for vinyl and the original CD was a little muddy in the midrange and really needed a clean up. There is a night and day difference with this remaster, which I am so very happy about. Colour of Spring and Sprit of Eden both had enhanced mastering back when they were released so the remastering isn't as noticeable, however the subtle improvements are there. Be rest assured, though, all that means is all three albums come out crystal clear and full of high fidelity. You're getting the best masters on this collection.

Listen for yourself. I challenge any of you who do not know Talk Talk to check out some samples of their music. If it sounds appealling then it would be in your best interest to get this collection. The remastering alone makes it worth it, especially for It's My Life. You'll thank me once you get these CD's, put them in a good stereo system and lose yourself in the music.

Talk Talk's transition from a fairly decent, if unremarkable, New Wave pop act into admirable composers of freeform and avant music is one of the more exhilarating and noteworthy progressions any band has ever made in their career. Because this change in Talk Talk's music occurred in such a relatively short time frame, these three selections collected here will adequately illustrate how a band was willing to walk away from conventional pop to become something more precious and unique.

The earliest of the three discs, the sophomore album It's My Life, is easily the weakest here. It's a slight step down from the material on the

, but it does show at an early stage a sign of restlessness to break away from their musical contemporaries in the New Wave movement. Although the exploration of odd and experimental electronic sounds make this unique in the Talk Talk discography, the songwriting doesn't come on quite as strong. The notable exceptions being the soaring title track and "Such A Shame", as well as the contemplative "Renee" and "Tomorrow Started".

Color of Spring moves away from the electronics and closer to a much warmer organic sound, which proved to be a more natural fit for the band. The aggressive drum and minor key piano hook of "Life's What You Make It" is perhaps the best-known song here, but the superb "Give It Up", and "Living In Another World" also contend as my favorites from this album. More revealing however are the quieter numbers like "April 4th" and "Chameleon Day", precursors of the musical change around the corner.

Spirit of Eden takes Talk Talk's music into a whole new uncharted territory. Six long songs of abstracted beauty. Mark Hollis is as unintelligible as ever, he might as well be singing the recipe off a cake mix, but it's the fragile quivers in his voice that adds yet another unique element to this recording. (Forget deciphering the handwritten lyrics). One standout track, "Desire", enters in as easily as a breeze through a window and exits as harsh as a thunderstorm. "I Believe In You" makes use of a backing choir that is doubly angelic and chilling. "Wealth" periodically erupts with a cacophonous electric guitar to add an unexpected element of tenseness to an otherwise leisurely composition.

As good as Spirit of Eden is however the band's swan song album

is greater still (not included in this set), and in my opinion one of the best albums ever made. Unfortunately it's future is now in the hands of a different record label and has yet to see the remastered treatment it fully deserves. From there what remains is Mark Hollis's sole

, which is more sparse and intimate than any of Talk Talk's music but definitely worth checking out.

My final rating is for the entire collection of music contained within this set, but if I were to rate these albums individually (out of 5 stars)...

It's My Life: 2 stars,

Color of Spring: 3 stars

Spirit of Eden: 4 stars.