Thanks for the reminder... Been meaning to invest in that book :-) Laughing Stock is at least as good, I agree, but I needed to hear Spirit of Eden first to give me context for what they were trying to do. Any album that starts with 20 seconds of guitar amp hiss is a thumbs up from me !
It is indeed a fantastic album. I am not sure if I love this one more or The Colour of Spring. I had actually heard bits and pieces from both, but finally got the cds on a trip to Florida in 2009. Also bought Mark's solo album that day. I certainly appreciate this band a lot more after listening those cds in full.
That solo album... SO much space. I'm so guilty of filling that space when I work. I feel like one of those people who can't bear a gap in a conversation so they have to keep talking, even if it isn't interesting ;-)
My first encounter with Spirit was a listening room in Salisbury HiFi, I would often buy vinyl from Our Price around the corner then take it to the ‘adult’ hifi shop and pretend I was auditioning speakers and amps and turntables. I was just going there to listen to the vinyl as I didn’t own a turntable. I think the shop workers knew what I was up to. Anyway, the day I put Spirit of Eden on it set off a ripple effect over me and my guitarist friend sat next to me then the shop workers (HiFi experts) came into the listening room and it deeply effected them too. And they then used it to audition equipment from that day forth. Epic, inspiring music that led me into a whole new chapter.
Yes ! I work in a high-end hi-fi shop sometimes, and SoE often comes out to demo the gear. It's incredible because it's so dynamic, and it was mastered to preserve that, so there's less squishing the loud bits and turning up the quiet bits... But you're right. Play it to the right person at the right time and it's a life-changer :-) x
Lovely, evocative description of an album I've always held dear. It was utterly anachronistic, although in which direction is an ongoing debate I host in my head.
Thank you ! I think it exists in its own little universe; there's nothing there to tie it to any decade, really. It's either timeless or metachronistic (does that exist ? 'Above' time ?).
Well put; as well put as it's possible to put the un-puttable. Those of us who get it, understand - and you should know. Your version of I Don't Believe In You is, to me, the best Talk Talk cover ever. I broke the law to own it (illegally downloaded it from YouTube) and then to play it on my radio show (copyright infringement). If the police come I shall deny everything...
Wow... Thanks Mike. That means a lot. Trying to find a way into that one was quite a challenge, when the original is pretty much in my bones. I had the same feeling when I remixed that Sylvian song... How do you switch from reverence to some kind of practical approach to getting the job done ? Took some adjusting, let me tell you ;-) x
Still does the job, right ? And it's not anything to do with nostalgia, for me. It just stands up - timeless - and sort of takes the shape of whatever I need at that point in my life.
It's a fantastic album. I love "Laughing Stock" even more, I think. Also, Ben Wardle's book on Mark Hollis is a recommendation from my end.
Thanks for the reminder... Been meaning to invest in that book :-) Laughing Stock is at least as good, I agree, but I needed to hear Spirit of Eden first to give me context for what they were trying to do. Any album that starts with 20 seconds of guitar amp hiss is a thumbs up from me !
It is indeed a fantastic album. I am not sure if I love this one more or The Colour of Spring. I had actually heard bits and pieces from both, but finally got the cds on a trip to Florida in 2009. Also bought Mark's solo album that day. I certainly appreciate this band a lot more after listening those cds in full.
That solo album... SO much space. I'm so guilty of filling that space when I work. I feel like one of those people who can't bear a gap in a conversation so they have to keep talking, even if it isn't interesting ;-)
Aw everything you do or say is interesting!
My first encounter with Spirit was a listening room in Salisbury HiFi, I would often buy vinyl from Our Price around the corner then take it to the ‘adult’ hifi shop and pretend I was auditioning speakers and amps and turntables. I was just going there to listen to the vinyl as I didn’t own a turntable. I think the shop workers knew what I was up to. Anyway, the day I put Spirit of Eden on it set off a ripple effect over me and my guitarist friend sat next to me then the shop workers (HiFi experts) came into the listening room and it deeply effected them too. And they then used it to audition equipment from that day forth. Epic, inspiring music that led me into a whole new chapter.
Yes ! I work in a high-end hi-fi shop sometimes, and SoE often comes out to demo the gear. It's incredible because it's so dynamic, and it was mastered to preserve that, so there's less squishing the loud bits and turning up the quiet bits... But you're right. Play it to the right person at the right time and it's a life-changer :-) x
Lovely, evocative description of an album I've always held dear. It was utterly anachronistic, although in which direction is an ongoing debate I host in my head.
Thank you ! I think it exists in its own little universe; there's nothing there to tie it to any decade, really. It's either timeless or metachronistic (does that exist ? 'Above' time ?).
Well put; as well put as it's possible to put the un-puttable. Those of us who get it, understand - and you should know. Your version of I Don't Believe In You is, to me, the best Talk Talk cover ever. I broke the law to own it (illegally downloaded it from YouTube) and then to play it on my radio show (copyright infringement). If the police come I shall deny everything...
Wow... Thanks Mike. That means a lot. Trying to find a way into that one was quite a challenge, when the original is pretty much in my bones. I had the same feeling when I remixed that Sylvian song... How do you switch from reverence to some kind of practical approach to getting the job done ? Took some adjusting, let me tell you ;-) x
Moves me in ways I can’t explain…
Still does the job, right ? And it's not anything to do with nostalgia, for me. It just stands up - timeless - and sort of takes the shape of whatever I need at that point in my life.