FIERCE PANDA RELEASES ‘SPIRIT OF TALK TALK’ TRIBUTE IN SEPTEMBER and it features artists like Bon Iver, White Lies, Jason Lyttle of Grandaddy and Richard Reed Parry Arcade Fire, & White Belt Yellow Tag who do an amazing cover of Talk Talk’s track ‘ TODAY ‘ – In all fairness the WBYT version of ‘ Today ‘ is superb but as previously illustrated there are also loads of other great artists contributing to the tribute to one of the best bands of all time. So buy it!
The Truth: In September 2012 fierce panda will be releasing ‘Spirit Of Talk Talk’, a double album which features 30 contemporary acts from around the globe re-inventing, re-interpreting and just generally rebooting many of Talk Talk’s greatest moments precisely 30 years since ‘Talk Talk’ made its mark on the mainstream. Conceived and co-ordinated by uberfan Toby Benjamin and massaged into shape by musical director Alan Wilder (from Recoil / Depeche Mode), this twin CD opus comes swaddled in artwork by creative Talk Talk stalwart James Marsh and sees profits going to the Rare Bird Club. As if that weren’t enough already the album accompanies a finely-honed and impeccably toned ‘Spirit Of Talk Talk’ book, itself published in September by Essential. An online hub has just been launched at http://www.facebook.com/SpiritOfTalkTalk and you can pre-order the album from http://www.fiercepanda.co.uk/shop.php?release=432 right now.
So it was 1982 when Mark Hollis and crew first soared into view with a slew of deceptively commercial hit singles. However by the time Talk Talk delivered the seminal ‘The Colour Of Spring’ album (their third) in 1986, which brilliantly merged pop instinct with experimental flair, they’d long since shed any hint of being mere also(duran du)rans. Whereupon Hollis turned his back on the mainstream completely and made three further albums (two as Talk Talk, one solo) of breathtaking scope and mindblowing minimalism before – obviously – fading from view.
Hollis was famously quoted as saying the later albums were ‘completely unplayable’ live – in fact he was quoted by fierce panda founder Simon Williams doing one of the last known interviews with Talk Talk for the NME. It’s perhaps telling that while the ‘Spirit Of Talk Talk’ acts were queuing up to pay their respects to the later material – all six deathlessly complex tracks from 1991’s ‘Laughing Stock’ album are covered here, for example – nobody attempted ‘Talk Talk’ itself and even The TenFiveSixty’s take on noted Talk Talk anthem ‘It’s My Life’ was the very last effort to be delivered, recorded as it was in February this year. For this generation of modern artists, the more abstract, ethereal and just darned out there Talk Talk became the better.
Some of these acts, notably King Creosote, White Lies, Zero 7, Turin Brakes, Goldheart Assembly, Joan As Police Woman and Linton Kwesi Johnson, will already be familiar to listeners. Many of them are creeping out of the shadows of outfits such as The Verve (RIP), Arcade Fire, Grandaddy, Electric Soft Parade, Guillemots and Bon Iver – we’ll let you work out who. One of them, Ian Curnow, even played keyboards for Talk Talk first time around. There are collaborations and imaginations (gently) running riot but all the acts, be they old or new, are united by their enthusiasm and the fact that they have given their services and indeed recordings for free. The hope is that long term Talk Talk fans will discover some new likeminded loves among these acts, while followers of these current vagabonds will be exposed to the joys of the Talk Talk oeuvre.
Lest we forget it isn’t only the contributors to the album who are spreading the word – the ‘Spirit Of Talk Talk’ book features written eulogies from, among others, the smitten likes of Guy Garvey, Richard Wright (Pink Floyd), Karl Hyde (Underworld), Wild Beasts and James Lavelle from UNKLE. The artwork for this artefact is once again by James Marsh and the book highlights all manner of Talk Talk-related delights such as lost photos and handwritten lyric sheets. The plan is for the finished tome to actually feature a Roll Of Honour listing the names of fans who pre-order the book. Check www.spiritoftalktalk.com for more information.
The CD PACKAGE is designed by Talk Talk’s graphic artist James Marsh using a stunning cover created in 1983 for a prospective album ‘Chameleon Hour’, but never released. Alan Wilder is the musical and production supervisor for the project, and the album has been mastered by Denis Blackham, who was also responsible for mastering many of Talk Talk’s albums.
‘Spirit Of Talk Talk’ then: 30 tracks. Two compact discs. One book. Several labours of love. Perhaps even a notorious perfectionist such as Mark Hollis would appreciate the effort put into this project. Now, that’s the spirit…
‘SPIRIT OF TALK TALK’: THE LAUNCH PARTY
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 6TH 2012: LONDON GREAT PORTLAND STREET 229
Which will feature full live performances from half a dozen of the ‘Spirit Of Talk Talk’ acts and many TALK TALK-themed happenings besides. More details to follow.
Track Listing:
Compact Disc One
1. Lone Wolf ‘WEALTH’
www.facebook.com/lonewolfofficial
2. Zero 7 (feat Only Girl) ‘THE COLOUR OF SPRING’
www.zero7.co.uk
www.onlygirlmusic.com
3. S Carey (Bon Iver) ‘I BELIEVE IN YOU’
www.scarey.org
4. Recoil (feat Shara Worden) ‘DUM DUM GIRL’
www.recoil.co.uk / www.mybrightestdiamond.com
5. Duncan Sheik ‘LIFE’S WHAT YOU MAKE IT’
www.duncansheik.com
6. Thomas Feiner / Fyfe Dangerfield / Robbie Wilson ‘THE RAINBOW’
www.thomasfeiner.com / www.fyfedangerfield.com / www.facebook.com/autumnchorus
7. Halloween, Alaska ‘AFTER THE FLOOD’
www.halloweenalaska.com
8. Nils Frahm / Peter Broderick / Davide Rossi ‘IT’S GETTING LATE IN THE EVENING’
www.nilsfrahm.de / www.peterbroderick.net
9. King Creosote ‘GIVE IT UP’
www.kingcreosote.com
10. Lights (feat Darkstars) ‘LIVING IN ANOTHER WORLD’
www.facebook.com/lights / http://soundcloud.com/darkstars
11. Zelienople ‘THE RAINBOW’
http://zelienopleband.com
12. Joan As Police Woman ‘MYRRHMAN’
www.joanaspolicewoman.com
13. The Last Dinosaur ‘RUNEII’
www.thelastdinosaur.co.uk
14. Jack Northover ‘?’
www.jacknorthover.com
Compact Disc Two
1. The TenFiveSixty ‘IT’S MY LIFE’
www.thetenfivesixty.com
2. Recoil (feat Linton Kwesi Johnson & Paul Marshall) ‘INHERITANCE’
www.recoil.co.uk
3. Turin Brakes ‘ASCENSION DAY’
www.turinbrakes.com
4. White Belt Yellow Tag ‘TODAY’
www.whitebeltyellowtag.com
5. Ian Curnow (feat Human) ‘I DON’T BELIEVE IN YOU’
www.eemusic.co.uk / www.myspace.com/24human
6. Goldheart Assembly ‘CHAMELEON DAY’
www.goldheartassembly.com
7. Matthias Vogt Trio ‘APRIL 5TH’
www.matthiasvogt.net
8. Do Make Say Think ‘NEW GRASS’
www.domakesaythink.com
9. Jason Lytle ‘TOMORROW’S STARTED’
www.jasonlytle.com
10. White Lies ‘GIVE IT UP’
www.whitelies.com
11. Lia Aces ‘TIME IT’S TIME’
www.liaices.com
12. The Lovetones ‘THE PARTY’S OVER’
www.myspace.com/thelovetones
13. Thomas White ‘CANDY’
www.electricsoftparade.co.uk
14. The Black Ships (feat Amelia Tucker) ‘RENEE’
www.facebook.com/blacksubmarine / www.ameliatucker.com
15. The Acorn ‘TAPHEAD’
www.theacorn.ca
16. Richard Reed Parry (Arcade Fire) ‘I BELIEVE IN YOU’
BONUS DOWNLOAD TRACKS
1. Minerva Lions ‘ASCENSION DAY’
2. Mike Gill (feat Robert Owens) ‘IT’S MY LIFE’
3. Kurran & The Wolfnotes ‘EDEN’