Grace Notes: Talk Talk, HTRK, A Light Goes On

Last updated on: December 10, 2011 at 9:00 am by Jason Morehead

Grace Notes: Talk Talk, HTRK, A Light Goes On 2011-12-10T09:00:01-07:00 Jason Morehead

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Grace Notes is a weekly exploration by Jason Morehead of signs of common grace in the music world. We hope to alert you to wonderful music, some of which will be spiritual in nature but all of which will be unique and worthy of your attention. Each week we will share brief reviews of albums worthy of your attention and maybe a video or two.

Talk Talk

Though they originally rose to fame as a Duran Duran-esque synthpop band in the ’80s, Talk Talk had evolved into something very different by the decade’s end. Spirit of Eden (1988) and Laughing Stock (1991) found the band moving in a more avant-garde, jazz-influenced direction characterized by subtle, meandering song structures, pastoral ambience, and Mark Hollis’ plaintive voice and cryptic lyrics. The move may have been career suicide — their new sound was a complete one-eighty from their earlier, more radio-friendly material — but the band’s influence has lived on and only grown stronger, even two decades after their break-up. Radiohead, Portishead, Shearwater, Sigur Rós, DJ Shadow, Bark Psychosis, Elbow, Low, and others have been influenced by Hollis and his bandmates — and many of them are contributing to Spirit of Talk Talk, a book due out in Spring 2012 that chronicles the band’s career and influence. In the meantime, if you haven’t listened to Talk Talk — or if you only know them as a result of No Doubt covering “It’s My Life” back in 2003 — then pick up a copy of Spirit of Eden or Laughing Stock. They both come with my highest “Grace Notes” recommendation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHUDNZD5N88

HTRK

I’ve put off writing about HTRK’s Work (work, work) for a few months now, even though I’ve been listening to it on a fairly regular basis. For one thing, it’s difficult to characterize: one could file it under “Electronica”, but that gives short shrift to the album’s semi-industrial soundscapes and the world-weary atmosphere that permeates its songs. Tone-wise, it’s a bit intimidating as well. Calling it “dark” barely scratches the surface: between Jonnine Standish’s lethargic vocals and disturbing lyrics, Nigel Yang’s ragged-yet-ephemeral guitar noises, and the glacial beats and synth-work, the whole album seems to enveloped in a cloud of perpetual haze. Indeed, Blade Runner-esque cityscapes often come to mind while listening to the album. But just as Blade Runner‘s dystopic, permanently shrouded sprawl was often visually intoxicating, Work (work, work) can also be sonically intoxicating. There’s a certain ghostly allure at work in these songs, as well as a desperation that one can’t help but trace back to the 2010 suicide of Standish and Yang’s bandmate Sean Stewart. You can listen to the entire album here.

Sam Billen

Back in October, I told you about Sam Billen’s Kickstarter campaign to fund his holiday project, A Light Goes On. The project was successfully funded, and it’s now available for your holiday enjoyment and edification. A Light Goes On‘s artistic roster is pretty impressive, including musical and visual contributes from the likes of Half-Handed Cloud, The Tenniscoats, Timbre, Dan Billen, Danny Joe Gibson, Beau Jennings, and of course, Sam Billen himself. If you’re looking for some original holiday music to listen to, or an alternative to the packaged Christmas muzak that fills stores and shopping malls this time of year, then A Light Goes On might just be the thing for you.

Previous Post

December 9, 2011

Elsewhere: A New-Earth, Cussin', Submission, and Ayn Rand on Symbolism

Next Post

December 12, 2011 Music Made Physical: In Defense of the Humble Cassette

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Asides Elsewhere Featured Film Games General Culture Headline Literature Music Of the Moment Podcast Politics RetroPost Sports Technology Television Uncategorized Viral

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz