Formed in 1981 by visionary frontman and multi-instrumentalist Mark Hollis, Talk Talk’s decade-long career deserves to be studied as a perfect example of artistic growth and evolution.
Frustrated by the limitations of their early synth-pop leanings, Hollis brought in producer Tim Friese-Greene to help co-write their latter material, ditching electronics and instead using endless session musicians to create intricate, experimental, ambient arrangements. In this period the band frustrated record labels thanks to Hollis’ unwillingness to budge from his creative vision, and confused their ever-dwindling audience. Yet, ultimately, Talk Talk became one of the most influential bands in alternative music after Hollis vanished from the music business in 1991 - returning only for his self-titled 1998 solo album - hailed as the inventors of post-rock by the likes of Radiohead, The Mars Volta, Slint, Steven Wilson and many more.
Hollis’ passing in 2019 means there is no chance of Talk Talk ever coming back to bask in the high esteem in which they are now held, but theirs is a back catalogue of rare and unique quality. And here it is ranked from worst to best.
