For the fortieth anniversary of “The Color Of Spring”, one of Talk Talk's masterpieces, a new vinyl reissue will be released half-speedout on September 4th, just one day before the concert-event which will see some historic members of the band come together for one evening only to pay homage to the album.
The reissue
Originally released in 1986, “The Color Of Spring” represented a decisive turning point in the career of the group led by Mark Hollis: it was the album that marked the gradual abandonment of the synth-pop and new wave of the early days in favor of a more sophisticated and experimental language, anticipating the atmospheres of “Spirit Of Eden” and “Laughing Stock”.
After the recent half-speed reissue of “Spirit Of Eden”, this new edition was also supervised by drummer Lee Harris together with Charlie Hollis, son of the late Mark. The master was recorded at half speed by Matt Colton at Metropolis Studios and will be released on 180 gram vinyl.
The tracklist remains that of the original edition:
Side A
Happiness Is Easy
I Don't Believe In You
Life's What You Make It
April 5th
Side B
Living In Another World
Give It Up
Chameleon Day
Time It's Time
The live reunion
The day after its release, September 5th, some former Talk Talk members will take to the stage at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London for a special celebratory concert dedicated to the album. Participants include founding keyboardist Simon Brenner, Phil Ramocon and Ian Curnow, joined by Sophie Barker (Zero 7), Gale Paridjanian (Turin Brakes), Tim Eisenburg (Sweet Billy Pilgrim), Chris Hampson and Jacob Brown.
The evening will also feature special guests such as Ed Harcourt, Fyfe Dangerfield of Guillemots and Mark Gardener of Ride, who will take part in performances alongside the band.
Mark Hollis, lead singer and main songwriter of Talk Talk, passed away in February 2019 at the age of 64 after an illness, leaving a fundamental artistic legacy in the history of contemporary rock.
The record
Talk Talk's artistic transformation is a fascinating phenomenon. In the mid-80s, the English band set aside their chart-topping synth-pop marvels, produced in particular in their second album, “It's My Life”, moving with divine grace towards a melodically dreamy, intrinsically delicate and articulated formula. The group of the late Mark Hollis still constitutes a true singularity today. His second life also anticipates the classic post-rock moods, constituting a very bright example of unconditional compositional freedom to be passed down to posterity. The path followed by the English group to definitively change their skin is a path of a thousand colours. A path whose blooming flowers exude entrancing scents. The path that will lead Hollis and co to the figurative Eden of the 1988 masterpiece can be quantified precisely in the eight tracks of “The Color Of Spring”. Middle Earth, to put it in Tolkien's words. The tree from which to draw lifeblood for the future. In fact, it is thanks to this album that Talk Talk deviated their direction. It is above all in its folds that we find both the seeds and the buds of a future that is quite distant from the first past. With the collaboration of a rock guru like Steve Winwood (Traffic).
Daniel D`Amico for SANREMO.FM
