Talk Talk - "Spirit of Eden" Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, 1988/2012

My favorite music these days are the ones that I missed when they were initially released. Talk Talk is such a band that I ignored for decades, even though I did see them at the Reseda Country Club in the early 1980s when their first big hit "Talk Talk" (not to be confused with the band's name) hit the KROQ airwaves. They had no lasting impression on me whatsoever. Still, as the years go on, people have told me that this band is excellent. "Spirit of Eden" is a unique album and a perfect one at that.

It's natural to compare something you haven't heard, with other artists. Listening to "Spirit of Eden," it reminds me a bit of early David Sylvian, with a touch of classic "John Barleycorn Must Die" Traffic, and then a presence of Miles Davis "Silent Way." Of course, that is just the entrance to the world of Talk Talk. For a band that started with a very 80s production style, ends with all acoustic or un-machine-like instrumentation, such as Double Bass (the great Danny Thompson), Guitarrón, Oboe, violin (Nigel Kennedy), and various horns. Mark Hollis is the figurehead and is very much in the style of a minimalist, who makes maximum music. One never knows what's around the corner, because something unusual and adventuresome comes out of nowhere. In that sense, there is the late Scott Walker approach to arrangements.

The sound is dense, murky, and then almost silence. For, however, many minutes this album is, it doesn't allow the listener to remove themselves from the speakers. "Inheritance" has a classical oboe and strings interlude that comes in like a wave hitting the beach. There are sonic surprises that are borderline ambient, but the mixing is brilliant. Not an album to categorize but to accept on its worth by the superb sounds and touches of melody that is haunting. The silence is just as important as the instrumentation. It should be its instrumental credit: silence — a beautiful piece of delicate work.

Traffic - "Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush" b/w "Coloured Rain" 45 rpm vinyl single, 1967 (Island)

For me, Traffic was the most magnificent band, but only for the first nine or 12 months of their existence in 1967.  After that, I lost interest in them.  Never an offensive group, actually far from that category, but early Traffic was an essential listening experience.  Traffic always had a 'world' touch to their music, with traces of jazz, and folk leanings.  Still, in the early recordings, there was a sense of exploration in sound and songwriting structures.  The focus was on Steve Winwood, but it was the textural contributions from Chris Wood, their horn player, as well as Jim Capaldi (drummer).  Dave Mason was their guitarist, and he added songwriting skills, but there is something that kept him in line with the other three.  Original member, he left, then re-joined them for their second album.  A significant figure in the band, but his presence seemed to be the nail that stuck out too much, with respect to the band. 

"Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush" is the theme song to the movie with the same title.  It has all the best elements of Traffic.  Soulful, melodic, superb musicianship, and superb songwriting.  I have a hunch that this song was not well-loved by Traffic at the time.  Still, an amazing recording, beautifully produced by Jimmy Miller, that had touches of exotic sounds that were dreamy, but very solid on the earth.  The b-side, "Colored Rain" is a classic Traffic cut.  A beautiful little window is looking out onto the landscape of late 1967. 

Traffic - "Heaven Is In Your Mind" Vinyl, Reissue, Mono (Sundered Music)

one of my all-time favorite albums.  I first bought it I think in 1967, or early 1968. "Heaven Is In Your Head" is confusing, due that there is another version of this album that came out in the UK, and I think even in the U.S. there may have been at least two versions of this album.  Nevertheless,  and over many years, I now have this specific version.  It's a re-issue and in mono. 

Steve Winwood and friends (sometimes Dave Mason, who is on and off this album) made the perfect psychedelic pop with touches of European flavor.   The songwriting on the album is superb and incredibly textured.   Jim Capaldi (co-writer) and Chris Wood were magnificent additional visionaries for this first release.   Like all great things, the band soured for me by their second album.  They did nothing wrong, but compared to the first album, I felt they lost their spark or originality.  Perhaps they were in the right place and time.  A great band that could have been greater, but "Heaven Is In Your Mind" is a remarkable aural/sonic work.   It's hard to believe that Winwood was still a teenager when he made this recording.