As a 16-year old, back in '88, it just blew me away on my first listen. And it still does, anytime. Hard to describe what it actually does...Robert Fripp said once: Quiet is the absence of sound, silence is the presence of silence. Silence is the key on this brave attempt to reach the heavens.

“Before you play two notes, learn how to play one note, y'know. And that, it's as simple as that really. And don't play one note unless you've got a reason to play it.” - Mark Hollis

so many goosebump moments... I discovered this album a year ago and thought where have you been all my life

One of my absolute favorites. So rich in texture, colors and tones. When it came out I was stunned. Talk Talk invented a genre of their own. We now call it post rock. Glad you gave it a first listen. I’ll bet there wil be lots more to come 😀

The amazing Mark Feltham on the harmonica everybody!!!

The level of tension and longing all over this is just incredible

In a world without Mark Hollis warm and sad soundscapes, Radiohead would never have existed, which in itself is both a breathtaking and sad thought. So thank you so much Mark, for your courage to break new ground

The world is a lesser place having lost Mark Hollis. Only saw them once, London 86 (Hammersmith Odeon if my failing memory serves) comfortably the best gig I ever attended.

I am going to have to listen to this again. And Again. In the dark. Knew they were good, if a bit poppy. This nails it.

This, with Laughing Stock, is the apex of everything that we call modern music.

Brilliant brilliant album, only now all these year's later getting the praise and accolades that it deserves. Timeless.

Masterpiece! Mark reach the "essence" of post-rock music, with introducing silence and space, which create tension and quietness. Mark did the recording of that album taking all the parts from every musician to make the compositions to cope with his goal: "less is more". he manage to do silence sound like more powerful music than ever any instrument played loud! MASTERPIECE!!!! If you like Bass communion, you should dig in No-Man albums, from Steven Wilson and Tim Bowness, the very first group in which Steven was involved. Note that the harmonica player played on Steven Wilson "To the bone" album, and Steven of course is a huge fan of Talk Talk.

YES YES YES! More of one of my favourite 80s bands. This albums amazing. And Laughing Stock. They were one of the first bands to pioneer the genre Post-Rock. Marks voice is brilliant on here.

I ADORE this album. Bliss in musical form

Perfect beauty. English can't come close to fully capturing how rich and nuanced and magnificent this whole album is. (Perhaps some other language can, but I'm unaware of it.) And I love your breakdown and analysis, JP. So many good points, particularly about the space that feels like they've solidified it and made it an actual thing to take notice of as much as the notes being played.

Absolute perfection,surely a big influence on Radiohead?

Finally continuing your Talk Talk journey, excellent! After this album, they took it one step further with 1991's “Laughing Stock”. It seems that they planned another successor called “Mountains On The Moon“, but that was finally released as Mark Hollis' self-titled solo debut in 1998. That album is pure perfection, bringing the journey that started with “Spirit Of Eden” to an end. It was also when Mark Hollis finally turned his back to music industry (with some tiny exceptions), because it has all been said what had to be said. I highly recommend “Mark Hollis” to you, especially as you stressed several times how much you like open spaces in music. (On a side note, I think the “production effect” you spotted at the end of “Eden” is just some strange error. On my vinyl and CD it doesn't sound that way. In fact, I was very irritated by how that passage sounded in your video.)

This album is my "Secrets of the Beehive'.

I have to confess that I'm one of those who were disappointed/puzzled by Spirit Of Eden when it was released. Mea culpa: it happens when music is ahead of its time. In my opinion this album stands out among its Post-Rock peers for its emotional intensity (and yes, Mark Hollis voice plays a big role). P.S.: I'm not sure that this video will gain you many more subscribers, but it was a pure delight. Someone has to push the bounderies , right?

Really 'mature' music - which I do not mean in an elitist way, but had you played this to me in my teenage or twen-years, I would have raised a bored eyebrow and moved on. Now I have to say, this is really fascinating...

I don’t think any band grew the way Talk Talk did outside of the Beatles. They are one of the great unsung bands

The day I found this album was the day I began to be lifted from my time in despair. It had no tie to anything that was previously in my life, so it was like a new world of hope that was free of desire. I listen to this at least once a week for the last 2 years and it has changed my life...it is quite amazing what music can do.

I’ve had this album since it was released and I’m still playing it today. Just a forty minute emotional rollercoaster which still gives me goosebumps.

It’s like stepping in quicksand while reaching out into the beyond. Amazing

Nick Drake just a couple of days ago, now Talk Talk. You are please-pleasing me way too much 😆😊 thank you very much for your picks. "Spirit of Eden" is one of my 10 desert island records. This reaction video to the first three tracks from the album is gold! Have a wonderful day! Oh, I forgot to mention The Doors. Their debut is the best rock album for me, one of my absolute undeniable three.

It fills my heart and soul with absolute joy and pure bliss to see your reaction to these masterpieces of music. As a lifelong fan of TT, a 13 y.o teenager in 1981 until now, a 50+ y.o grown woman, with that teenage girl still very much alive inside of me, it is soooo great to see you enjoying this so much. Same when I see my son enjoying music from "my time". Thank you JP, for bringing TT and their music "back to life" ❤. Even though for me, they were never "dead"! Beautiful, timeless and eternal are words that spring to mind. I can see you enjoy it now as much as I did so so many years ago. Just great 👍 ❤❤

Brilliant! One of my all time favourite records. The first 3 songs made up side 1 and flow so well together, I'm glad you didn't separate them.

Now we're talktalkin'! 😊

Damn... you're swimming in the primal well-spring of Post-Rock. This is a "desert island" album pick for sure.

Great, thoughtful reaction. "Patient" is great word when talking about this album; when I suggest it to people who aren't familiar with it, I tell them to be patient with it. IMO, this is one of the finest albums ever recorded. I bought it right when it came out. it took a while to grow on me (because I was impatient!), but once it did... Good on you for listening to all of side one at once, it really is a suite.

So. Most of my Talk Talk experience was tied to their hits way back when ... So sad I am only hearing this 33 years on. I am reminded of a Roger Waters quote about leaving space for the notes to breath. Sublime. A new addition to my playlist.

In the 50 years or so I've been on this planet no band has affected me the same way as Talk Talk, revered by other bands, pretty much lost to most of the general public after The Colour of Spring. For me only The Beatles has the same musical growth / trajectory in the timespan, from synth pop to completely ethereal in less than a decade. Quite simply some of the greatest music ever created.

Love this album. It's such a hidden gem.

One of the best albums of the 80s.

WOOOO Justin getting into post-rock!! I'm so hyped, this is a great record of the genre, can't wait to hear how you like the rest of this album and hopefully their next album Laughing Stock, which many consider to be their magnum opus!

Potentially, 'Desire' sounds like a personal reflection on an abusive relationship with a narcissistic partner. I am coming out of a marriage with someone like that right now unfortunately, and those lyrics felt very relatable. Finding contentment and being able to be satisfied with what you have is a much better pathway to fulfillment over drowning in an unending desire for acquiring more and more of whatever it is that you want in the moment and never getting enough. It brakes your mind, and squanders your gifts. Better to relax and foster gratitude.

My coming of age album, I was 17 y.o. when they released this masterpiece, always been a fan of their works but this was in another level. Had to wait ages to buy a CD of this because my LP and cassette were worn out and their releases always disappeared in a few hours from record stores down here. Someone else named "Secrets of the Beehive", my other "room mate" those days. Of course I didn't know it back then, but now I can say I was a very cool guy 😎. Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina 👋.

Ich habe mir unendlich viele "reaktion videos" angesehen. Nach alledem: Keiner, wirklich KEINER nähert sich mit annähernd so viel Respekt, so viel Demut an unterschiedlichste Juwelen: Talk Talk, Fela ... Wow

I left school in 1981 and form The Party's over through to his solo album was one of the best musicians was an interesting and amazing talent

another masterpiece album, enjoy

I DO enjoy your clean content! Thanks for making that one of your guiding principles. You clearly have a good sense of timing too to be able to pre-empt those lovely piano chords in the first part of that song. The distorted harmonica part just blows my mind - this album is something else and it's great to see the spark of connection in you and you experience it all for the first time.

Still unbelievable every time I hear these albums.

Love this album so much. Reminds me a lot of the rain tree crow album. Talk talk were one of England's finest

Still got. the original vinyl from 1988, their best album!

Somehow I think my favourite part of this ensemble is the long wind-up in Desire. Feeling that coiled up intensity waiting to explode out, the calm before the storm.

This album was recorded on tape and only analogue gear was used. One of the reasons to why its so organic sounding. Going completely against the norm at the time of digital audio productions. If I remember correctly the recording of this album took years and also resulted in a divorce for one of the band members. One can certainly hear how this album had a big influence on Post Rock and also on bands like Radiohead. When I studied music back in 2019, we played the song Inheritance at one point and it was how I was introduced to them, and this record. Our vocalist also happened to sound just like Mark Hollis, the vocalist of this band.

Spirit of Eden is a journey and a gift Mark Hollis left us before he went to the heaven of great musicians

Ahhh you’ve made many of your followers happy today, Justin! I bought this cd when it came out in ‘88 and I remember being so confused by it as I’d been expecting more music akin to The Colour of Spring. Even in my initial confusion I was so drawn into the sound and space of it, but it took me a few listens to truly appreciate it. Of course for me Mark’s vocals are as important as any of the instruments, and indeed they are used here in the same way. Around this same time I was getting into David Sylvian’s Gone to Earth and Secrets of the Beehive so those were days rich with such beautiful new sounds that still delight me today. Spirit makes me feel like I’m exploring a new landscape with the spaces allowing me to try and absorb what I’m seeing/hearing.

I think the fading in and out on the end of eden isnt on recording. Somewhere in your audio pipeline there is a compressor working on the threshhold line. There is alot of dynamic lost in this you tube audio. Anyway, your description of the music was perfect, like i said this album is the ultimate introspective lazy sunday afternoon record.

This is in my top 10 favorite albums of all time. So much beauty, creativity and complexity in the music Mark Hollis and the band created. It's truly masterful. Enjoy the ride.

Something about this album makes me feel like I still know where home is, no matter how far I've strayed

As I listened to this, I thought I would just jot down some thoughts. Emotive, original, instant recognizable, unique, relaxing, thought provocative and very typical of song construction. You know who the band is and what an amazing voice Mark Hollis has. Great music comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Definitely a band that creates that concept. I loved it.

Loved this reaction. This album and Laughing Stock will change your life. One of my favourites off Laughing Stock is New Grass. Try that one, it's emotional.

Superb stuff 👍

The fading in and out at the end of Eden that you mention is actually a flaw on the recording you were playing ; it shouldn't be there. It isn't the case on every other Spirit Of Eden cd I've ever heard.

I get this stuff, I have every album and it's so reassuring to hear somebody explain it and recognise its brilliance. `I get it, you get it. We're not alone' ` You ask what do I feel.......nourished, that's how I feel.

Quiet, quiet,kalidiscopic semicircle, paradise lust. Hurray long play Saturday! Peace and gesundheit. And by the way some Marillion would be nice maybe Ocean Cloud for a long weekend listen, again ☮️.

The resolution in 'Eden' after the hopeful build seems to convey the potential of a perfect creation (in the subject of the song), and then a resolve to a somber end - like the introduction of sin, death, and the human struggle.

Absolutely wonderful! Never knew they were this good😍 (On a side note: the rainbow doesn't come "after the rain" but (to my knowledge) is rain drops lit by sunshine and when you are on "the sunny side" watching "the falling drops" being lit there's a rainbow effect)

"The silence between two notes is more important than the notes themselves. Because the silence emphasises the notes." Another quote by Mark Hollis. I'm more fond of the previous two Talk Talk albums. Spirit Of Eden is brilliant in moments, but never touched me that deep in its entirety. I miss the pop vibe.

Love this album. It really is a "lights out, headphones on" experience. The mention of the journey, the growth, that Talk Talk went on being comparable to the Beatles is a fair one, albeit much less commercial than theirs. If you look at the singles from the first album being their "Love Me Do", look and listen to where they ended up! As Smart Cookie and Dave White allude to below, as much as this album is rightly rated (in retrospect at least) as a classic, at the time it had the record company in tears - and not in a good way - as it was SO different to Colour of Spring and there was absolutely nothing on it that could ever be a successful single. I am not that much of a musician but I always thought that the piano chords on the opening track are very reminiscent of those on Great Gig In The Sky from Dark Side of The Moon and So What from Kind of Blue. The latter two are definitely linked, because Rick Wright said they were. If I'm right, it's an interesting connection between 3 Milestone albums.

Justin, top drawer analysis, possibly your best yet (not reaction, but analysis), very much you in your element...perfect 45 minutes set around the most exquisite of albums, years ahead of its time, like the best wine, more relevant and intoxicating as time goes by...Hollis is a genius, sad he's coming to more recognition after his passing. The music s a kaleidoscope of influencing and influencers...the opening 15 seconds I hear the influential Miles Davis 'Green on Blue', within seconds I'm in Iceland of the future, listening to Sigur Ros, then the two combine...mate, can you not later hear Massive Attack (The Spoils'?)...then the sparsity of notes...then I listen to your Carpenters review and come back here, and now I see Burt Bacharach's influence where less is more, then google Mark Hollis and see Bacharach as an influence...and this is why I keep tuning in mate, great music (mostly ;)...), cracking analysis, knowledgeable audience with cracking commentary...oh look, how time flies when you are having fun...cheers bud...mind the shelf next time...or was that in the Carpenters video lol

"I haven't quite processed it all yet. I'm still putting it all together". Don't worry, Justin. So does the rest of us. 😊

Absolutely love this album! The next one, 'Laughing Stock' follows the same vein of Spirit, making them one of the pioneers of the post-rock genre. "New Grass", from Laughing Stock has one of my favorite guitar riffs ever... great video, as always! Edit: I've heard that you recommended Bass Communion, one of the Steven Wilson projects. Mark Feltham, the harmonica player on "Spirit Of Eden", plays on Steven's album "To The Bone"; awesome album, as well! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/iKeAfdmIr6ezdn0.html

Hello, Justin. Dave from a damp London, but your channel is a tonic, Come Rain Or Come Shine. Talk about progression! Talk Talk moved effortlessly from the art rock of Colour of Spring to the avant-garde jazz of Spirit of Eden, and this side is the stand out. You're so right in your reaction: the use of space and sparse but varied instrumentation, and the release of tension. And they steer the right side of structure against improvisation. As for originality, a friend heard these tracks back in the 80s and straight away said 'Heroine by Velvet Underground', and I can see some similarity in the intro and the use of distorted guitar. Of course, the vocals of Lou Reed and Mark Hollis are like chalk and cheese!

My ex boyfriend had this album taped on a B side. It was an album I fell asleep to every night. When you are in state of in and out of conciousness. Felt it was a masterpiece.

Very different, but outstanding! Never heard this band before. Thanks!

Wonderful review...really enjoyed this...cheers. Also looked up Bass Communion's song...wow...loved that!!! A new branch to climb.

Another Talk Talk masterpiece, loving seeing your enjoyment, Talk Talk are so worthy of your deep dives.

Nice one JP....my fav album of all time...no-one knows exactly how this album was put together...those involved aren't saying...RIP Mark Hollis

I'm so glad to see you get here. A couple weeks after I first listened to it on KZfaq my wife was Tubing and this popped into her mix and it blew her away. This is stuff you can totally disappear into. Genius!

Just discovered your channel and enjoying your intelligent, impartial, open-minded analysis of the music, but done in an interesting and engaging way. Nice job 👍👍 Particularly the Mike Oldfield and Talk Talk.

MASTERPIECE STUFF

A monolith, standing alone in a destroyed earth together with the Laughing Stock like the one in "2001", Kubricks's Odyssey. No Band ever before and ever after did this evolution like Talk Talk. A few are comming near to it, but not in this radical output.

Love!!!❤️

I grew to love the latter two Talk Talk albums and I have to confess they didn't appeal to me on first listen in my late teens and early 20s. They exemplified artistic evolution. I suspect Green took some of his experiences here to his later work with Catherine Wheel.

"Even in the quieter moments...." ? Nice cross reference 🙂

Me: *JustJP listening to Spirit of Eden? LIKE* Followed by starting the video hehe.

I have a playlist on Spotify of music that has potential for a 💚 but I need to hear again. These tracks are going there. I didn’t care for The Colour of Spring but this album appeals to me, so far.

Justin, you've made my day! Great review as always, thank you! Really hope you are going to continue with the album listen. When I came across Talk Talk and especially their last two albums, for a while I literally couldn't listen to much else, it all sounded too jarring and pointless in comparison. There is something very special about these albums to me. I have a feeling that maybe one has to go through some emotional struggles to really connect to them, it's a healing kind of music. And so beautiful and fragile.

Awesome reaction. Especially your observation about the use of (empty) space.

I remember the reviewer for NME in the UK dismissing this album at the time (I vividly recall the very first sentence was "Oh God - art"). I was (not for the first time) disgusted by what was passing for "music journalism". A few years back I put together a nice little desktop/near-field audio system (using a dinky little Indeed Labs TA2020 10+10w switching amp which I'm still using) and _Sprit of Eden_ was one of the first pieces I cued up - I was stunned by the 'space' and atmosphere it created. If you haven't heard it _in-room_ on a suitably detailed and revealing system you might be in for a rare treat.

Well it took me at least 5-6 years to process. And when I returned to it, it was a completely different listening experiment. To think I had this cd in my collection for a while and wasn't playing it.... Shame on me.

It's amazing to think this amazing album came out at the height of Stock, Aiken and Waterman (and they call rock 'n roll the devil's music).

Space, the final frontier. Yes JP, until Hollis recorded his final and only solo lp, a meditative exercise in what notes NOT to play. (Miles Davis' lesson.) Some of my favourite artists (Kate Bush, Radiohead, Elbow) rank it as one of their all-time favourites, and that made me return to it, after initially being nonplussed. "I Believe in You" is an amazing piece of pure beauty. (Have you ever tried some Elbow? "Newborn" or "Red" from their first album would be good entry points.)

Definitely on my Ten Albums On An Island list.

Great under rated band-Mark Hollis= Genius

1. Great reaction - made me appreciate the music further. 2. Nice shout out for Bass Communion - one I heartily second!

Glad you kept with Talk Talk ... I also noted this video was made today .. :)

You've created a great sense of musical communion with this channel Justin, well done. Yes, in a sense your descriptive listens are preaching to the converted, especially old-timers like myself, but I've learned new insights from you just as I think you get interesting feedback from your audience. Music shared is even more enjoyable than music consumed alone. Please don't forget that Oldfield solo on Instructions For Angels!

Quite possibly , this is the place and time where 'Post Rock' as a genre began.

Your shirt is a perfect accompaniment to your backdrop. Kudos!

I can’t agree enough with your recommendation. I LOVE Bass Communion

All this album was recorded in the dark, over the course of years. What they did at the end, is patch together the best of years worth of improvisations. When you talk about it feeling like you're in the dark; that's why.

Even their earlier admittedly popier albums shouldn’t be ignored a couple of masterpieces like ‘Candy’ and ‘Rene’ plus others in the same league. You don’t get the introspective vibe as much but if you compared them to Duran Duran of about the same era , Duran are playing Draughts (checkers) while Talk are playing chess and 3D chess too.

Love Love that shirt.....very nice......

I don't know any yt reaction channel that is as good as yours, Justin.

I really liked the other Talk Talk album and I could see how this could grow on me if I gave it enough time though it didn't click immediately. If my lungs didn't threaten me with bronchitis anytime I inhale too much smoke*, I would pick up some pot from the local pot store and give it a proper listen. Good (maybe great song) and great review. * Edibles are not an answer. The one and only time I indulged, I nearly died. It was complex and I didn't cover myself in glory.

‘Relax, don’t do it’ feeling 😎

This is such a beautiful suite! And you know what, Justin? When doing these kind of videos, you should wear a _suit._ Alright. I'll stop my puns now. But I'm ever so thankful you did the three pieces together! Peace!