i generally play the whole of disc 2. Sadly, 'John Cope' on my copy has a bad scratch
― or at night (Jon not Jon), Friday, 7 July 2017 17:28 (six years ago) link
"John Cope" is such a great b-side. Paul Webb's bass rules. And the a-side is one of their best songs, probably their richest one. On the 33 series thread someone wrote about writing a book just on that one song. I totally get that idea. "I believe in you" is a miracle. I think it deserves a thread on its own.
― Ich bin kein Berliner (alex in mainhattan), Friday, 7 July 2017 20:53 (six years ago) link
there's never been a decent documentary on these guys has there?
― piscesx, Friday, 8 September 2017 18:07 (six years ago) link
"time it's time" is completely astonishing
― ꙮ (map), Saturday, 20 January 2024 17:42 (three months ago) link
i listen to more and more talk talk every year. "i don't believe in you" and "i believe in you" are an incredible pair of songs
― z_tbd, Saturday, 20 January 2024 17:48 (three months ago) link
haha yeah i was just contemplating those.
"i don't believe in you" is very cathartic. the weeping guitar solo ;_;. the album as a whole has a definite trajectory. when it gets to "time it's time" it cracks open into nirvana. that song is a miracle. my jaw drops in disbelief every time.
when the boys choir in "happiness" shows up i just completely lose it. what band had a thing for boys choirs, harmonicas and free jazz? talk talk, that's who.
i'm making some mix cds for no real reason, a boy who probably won't listen to them (he means well). "i believe in you" is on it.
― ꙮ (map), Sunday, 21 January 2024 13:43 (three months ago) link
i was reading the wiki entry on "i believe in you" the other day - about mark's brother who overdosed on heroin? which is turned into a meditation on being and eternity. as one does.
― ꙮ (map), Sunday, 21 January 2024 13:48 (three months ago) link
my only quibble with this album, and probably my least favorite track though it's still quite good, is when mark tries to sing a bit of a blues lick on "living in another world". his angelic voice doesn't quite match the blues there imo! he got much better at it later though.
― ꙮ (map), Sunday, 21 January 2024 13:51 (three months ago) link
I love it but yeah that harmonica barrels in from another song
― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 21 January 2024 13:55 (three months ago) link
I love the harp!
Overall, just the most extraordinary album and yes yes yes to all the 'Time It's Time' praise.
― I would prefer not to. (Chinaski), Sunday, 21 January 2024 14:01 (three months ago) link
The harp adds to the tremendous propulsiveness of the track. It's constantly trying to keep up with itself.
― I would prefer not to. (Chinaski), Sunday, 21 January 2024 14:02 (three months ago) link
Living In Another World makes more sense if you think of it as a (really good) Steve Winwood song (and his organ on it is absolutely killer and thats coming from someone who normally detests organ)
― blazin' squab (NickB), Sunday, 21 January 2024 14:20 (three months ago) link
Anyone think the previous album's "Tomorrow Started" (which kills me) might've fit in here?
― poppers fueled buttsex crescendo (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 21 January 2024 14:20 (three months ago) link
I hear that, but also that song and 'Renee' are so fucking wintery, just completely desolate
― blazin' squab (NickB), Sunday, 21 January 2024 14:27 (three months ago) link
Never really thought before that CoS starts with a children's choir and ends with an adult one
― blazin' squab (NickB), Sunday, 21 January 2024 14:28 (three months ago) link
the album as a whole has a definite trajectory. when it gets to "time it's time" it cracks open into nirvana.
Exactly. It's a cliche to say it, but this album is truly a "journey" in a way the following two aren't. Much as I love LS and SoE (and do think they are objectively some of the "best" albums ever made), I've probably listened to CoS at least twice as many times as either (or Mark Hollis s/t) over the years. Of course, what followed CoS is not exactly every day listening...
Living In Another World makes more sense if you think of it as a (really good) Steve Winwood song
always thought this! There's even a similar vocal quality
― Paul Ponzi, Sunday, 21 January 2024 14:59 (three months ago) link
The two little Variophon tone poems at the center are the liqueur of this record for me. Also let’s not forget the three B-Sides - one of the best album-cycle’s worth of B-sides by anyone ever imo
― realistic pillow (Jon not Jon), Monday, 22 January 2024 00:11 (three months ago) link
The gentleness of Mark's vocal at the beginning of "Time It's Time" really makes how epic the tune gets even more startling. The balance of the songs on the album (with the partial exception of "I Don't Believe In You" I guess) tend to simmer at roughly the same level from start to finish (though obviously the different songs are at very different levels) whereas "Time It's Time" feels very invested in stretching its own dynamic range to the maximum extent feasible.
― Tim F, Monday, 22 January 2024 01:18 (three months ago) link
The results of this poll are baffling to me
― ...eh you get the gist of it (dog latin), Monday, 22 January 2024 02:34 (three months ago) link
There's a similar contrast, maybe a reversal, between the hymnal choir on "I Believe in You" and then children singing a threnody in "A Life (1895-1915)".
― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 22 January 2024 03:18 (three months ago) link
let’s not forget the three B-Sides
This is the only Talk Talk album I feel like messing with:
Side 1Happiness is EasyLife's What You Make ItPictures of BernadetteIt's Getting Late in the Evening
Side 2Living in Another WorldGive It UpFor What It's WorthTime It's Time
"I Don't Believe in You" is too MOR (I wince when the horn section comes in at the final prechorus), and the "gauzy, downbeat" tracks are outclassed by their subsequent work (as well as the tracks that I've replaced them with).
― Halfway there but for you, Monday, 22 January 2024 03:32 (three months ago) link
Needs more April 5th
― the absence of bikes (f. hazel), Monday, 22 January 2024 15:46 (three months ago) link
Yeah I can see thinking “Chameleon Day” as a practice run for what came next, but “April 5th” is its own little sound world, a really singular piece of music.
― Tim F, Monday, 22 January 2024 19:52 (three months ago) link
I find the programmed percussion on that song aggravating, "It's Getting Late in the Evening" does something similar, better.
― Halfway there but for you, Tuesday, 23 January 2024 02:44 (three months ago) link
LOL I feel the other way around: I love the programmed percussion and think it distinguishes/prevents the song from being a Spirit of Eden practice run like “It’s Getting Late In The Evening” (though I adore the weightless midsection of the latter).
― Tim F, Tuesday, 23 January 2024 03:10 (three months ago) link