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CD
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I remember how eager I was to own this album when it first came out around 1990, and how on hearing it for the first time I was completely dumb struck. It is a feeling that has never diminished.
I get frustrated trying to explain just how good it is - how original, moving, unique and thought provoking, yet can never really do the piece justice. I once read an interview with Rob Dickinson (brother of Iron Maiden's Bruce) from the band Catherine Wheel, who summed it up perfectly by describing it as "organic, breathing, what love truly sounds like". He describes the opening section as like "blood seeping from a wall". I couldn't ever better it. It is indeed music for the soul. It commands you to sit quietly and just let it wash over you.
There are too many things to recommend about the Spirit of Eden, whilst it is in six parts, it is actually a "whole". If I had to choose one track, then "I believe in you" is the piece that will stay with me always. How does someone write a piece like that?
I would have to say it would be my Desert Island disc - it has been the soundtrack for so much of my life, including recently the birth of my Son.
I read recently an interview with Turin Brakes who also cite Talk Talk's influence on them. It seems to be the case for so many people.
It is one of those rare albums that can be classified as truly "timeless".
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
'Spirit Of Eden' (1988) contains six long free-form pieces. 'The Rainbow' opens with glacial muted cries of trumpet and electronics. Two minutes pass before the glacial silence is disturbed by melancholy blues guitar licks and harmonica that match the gloomy vocals.
At just over three minutes, vocals emerge as if out of the nowhere. Fleeting piano, organ and trumpet float wistfully on the surface, while guitar accompanied by harmonica, become increasingly strained and the pace recedes before the anthem of the song acquires a dense psychedelic overlay. Everything appears to be subtly calculated for maximum effect. A dozen instruments contribute to the arrangement, and the effect is beautifully understated and spartan.
'Eden' is as equally restrained as a piece but appears to be more disorientated as it slows, fades and pauses for breath. A lucid and trance like quality pervades the piece which delicately seques into 'Desire' - its souful theme reminscent of Steve Winwood's 'Traffic'. The track highlights a gospel organ, jazz trumpet and strained vocals which are all suddenly extinguished.
A similar theme pervades 'Inheritance'. Minimilist keyboards, bass and woodwind instruments alternate and flicker to an arrangement worthy of chamber music.
The sweet lullaby of 'I Believe In You' uses a vortex of harmonious arrangements, with an angelic chorus as a counterpoint. A kind of psychedelic trance and universal mysticism ensues. The effect is spellbindingly beautiful and emotionally intense.
The final track 'Wealth' announces a heartfelt hymn in which quivering vocals appear to almost crack with emotion. The piece closes with a long droning organ which fades to a ghostly silence.
'Spirit Of Eden' is a stunning 'slo-core' masterwork that references advanced electronic and celestial free-jazz and rock in the tradition of Canterbury. This astounding achievement is unquestionably the single greatest piece of work to be produced by a British band and ranks as one of the ten greatest albums ever produced anywhere.
At just over three minutes, vocals emerge as if out of the nowhere. Fleeting piano, organ and trumpet float wistfully on the surface, while guitar accompanied by harmonica, become increasingly strained and the pace recedes before the anthem of the song acquires a dense psychedelic overlay. Everything appears to be subtly calculated for maximum effect. A dozen instruments contribute to the arrangement, and the effect is beautifully understated and spartan.
'Eden' is as equally restrained as a piece but appears to be more disorientated as it slows, fades and pauses for breath. A lucid and trance like quality pervades the piece which delicately seques into 'Desire' - its souful theme reminscent of Steve Winwood's 'Traffic'. The track highlights a gospel organ, jazz trumpet and strained vocals which are all suddenly extinguished.
A similar theme pervades 'Inheritance'. Minimilist keyboards, bass and woodwind instruments alternate and flicker to an arrangement worthy of chamber music.
The sweet lullaby of 'I Believe In You' uses a vortex of harmonious arrangements, with an angelic chorus as a counterpoint. A kind of psychedelic trance and universal mysticism ensues. The effect is spellbindingly beautiful and emotionally intense.
The final track 'Wealth' announces a heartfelt hymn in which quivering vocals appear to almost crack with emotion. The piece closes with a long droning organ which fades to a ghostly silence.
'Spirit Of Eden' is a stunning 'slo-core' masterwork that references advanced electronic and celestial free-jazz and rock in the tradition of Canterbury. This astounding achievement is unquestionably the single greatest piece of work to be produced by a British band and ranks as one of the ten greatest albums ever produced anywhere.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By P. W. Moore
Format:Audio CD
For ages I have wrestled with the idea of trying to put into words my thoughts on what has been my very favourite album for nearly 20 years (ever since my mate Jamie played it to me just after its release - I will never forget that enlightening moment). I know that I will fail miserably, particularly as there are many fine reviews below, but I must have a go. When "Spirit Of Eden" was released in 1988, hitherto there had been no album like it. Music journalists struggled for comparisons, suggesting Miles Davis' "In A Silent Way", Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks" or Can's "Tago Mago", even Satie or Debussy. These are fair starting points, but nothing can prepare the virgin listener for the boldest, most adventurous yet introspective masterpiece in modern music. Any attempt to describe this music in mere words will never do it justice or even fully succeed. The only way is to listen to it - ideally, as Mark Hollis himself recommended, "...in a calm mood with no distractions." The apparent influence this album (and its sequel "Laughing Stock") has had on other musicians is immense: Elbow, Pineapple Thief, Bark Psychosis, Porcupine Tree, Oceansize, Radiohead, Portishead, to name but a handful. I will round off by saying to anyone reading this: if you are yet to hear this inspired work of art, please at least give it a try, and persevere with it if you don't fall in love with it immediately - its charms are many and subtle. It changed my life and, just in case Mr. Hollis, Friese-Green, Webb or Harris reads this, I wish to thank you so much...
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolute Classic
I had bought this re-issue to replace my original copy which was suffering from a little too much surface noise. Read more
Published 4 days ago by Derek C
5.0 out of 5 stars
Music from another place
Imagine a room, filled with the sounds of the great bands of the eighties - The Smiths, Prefab Sprout, Echo and the Bunnymen and many more. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Eladjouf
5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb and sublime
This classic album oozes emotion from every note, intense, honest but, for my taste, never over indulgent. Read more
Published 2 months ago by P. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Masterpiece
There's some extremely well written reviews on here by people with obviously a greater musical knowledge than mine so I won't attempt an intellectual critique. Read more
Published 3 months ago by K. Voce
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heaven Sent
This album floors me every time I hear it. It is an album of quiet and loud extremes. It has moments where it is like someone whispering their most intimate secrets in a church. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Douglas Milne
5.0 out of 5 stars
surely music doesn't comes as perfect as this?
The whole album merges into one brilliantly affecting piece of art. There are dynamics aplenty; the music seems to base itself on silence, and almost structures itself organically... Read more
Published 4 months ago by M. A. Ratcliffe
5.0 out of 5 stars
An album from the future
A beautiful album, only perhaps now reaching its deserved audience.
Released back in 1988, there was nothing quite like it, and for some, it was a difficult experience... Read more
Released back in 1988, there was nothing quite like it, and for some, it was a difficult experience... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Bruce Percy
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is perfect
This really is a classic and five stars is fitting, unlike most 5 star reviews here on Amazon. The depth of recording is super, and even better on this new remastered version (than... Read more
Published 11 months ago by I. Kalka
5.0 out of 5 stars
Phill Brown - Are We Still Rolling?
Phill Brown was the engineer on this record. In his fabulous book Are We Still Rolling? he documents the story behind the recording of this album. Read more
Published 12 months ago by David M. Briffa
5.0 out of 5 stars
Atleast 5 more stars required please
This album is almost 24 years old. I bought it on vinyl in 1988, bought it again on cd in 1990, and finally bought it a third time - this beautifully detailed remaster - in 1997. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Blahtzenberg
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