release date: Jan. 26, 1998
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,12]
producer: Mark Hollis
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "The Colour of Spring" - 2. "Watershed" - 4. "The Gift" - 5. "A Life (1895-1915)" - 6. "Westward Bound" - 7. "The Daily Planet"
Studio solo debut and only album by Talk Talk front figure Mark Hollis released seven years after the disbandment of Talk Talk. A record deal for two albums with Polydor before the band's final album may be the practical grounds for the initial process in having this album released. Hollis never was an artist who sought out or enjoyed time in the limelight before or after releasing albums, and one of the reasons for the disbandment of Talk Talk was his personal wish not to live life as a performing artist but to recede to family life - so here's at least one good reason for having record contracts that matters.
Stylistically, the album is quite different from any of the albums released with Talk Talk. The only common characteristics is the element of jazz, which had its biggest impact on The Laughing Stock but also found way to Spirit of Eden and The Colour of Spring. You will also find the sense of progressiveness on this one but the overall tone and genre is not a post rock sound but a seclusive and almost ambient pop sensation, which is one-third chamber pop, one-third art pop and one third focussing on jazz; however, produced with minimal arrangements, and in a way, it could be labelled minimalism if not that style also hinted at repetitious elements, often made with classical or electronic instrumentation, which is not the case here. If not touching on silent, it's just extremely delicate. Several familiar musicians contribute on the album. Mark Feltham on harmonica, Martin Ditcham on drums and percussion, and Robbie McIntosh on guitar, and they have all played on several albums by Talk Talk before, but it's nearly incredible how many additional musicians Hollis make use of on this near-quiet album 'cause what you really end up hearing on the majority of the tracks, is basically only the voice of Mark Hollis, some piano parts by Lawrence Pendrous, the double-bass by classical and jazz bassist Chris Laurence alongside Mark Ditcham's percussion sounds. On top of that parts of other instruments are layered briefly to ensure the sensation of a warm, spacious room of beauty.
I purchased the album on its release without having heard one single tone from it 'cause I knew it had to be good. Not that it was what I expected, but it didn't disappoint. Perhaps my only regret is its short playing time clocking in just below 47 mins.
The album was met by positive reviews but it wasn't followed by live concerts or any tour. Although, Hollis produced and arranged two tracks on the album Smiling & Waving from 2001 by Norwegian Anja Garbarek (daughter of Jan Garbarek), he returned to his private life and regrettably seems to have abandoned music from hereon for good.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, The Guardian, Uncut and NME 4 / 5 stars ]
1998 Favourite releases: 1. Grant Lee Buffalo Jubilee - 2. Mark Hollis Mark Hollis - 3. Fatboy Slim You've Come a Long Way, Baby
