Brilliant

OK, so I was in a record store in Bristol, England, some time in the winter of 1986 and the sales clerk was playing this record. After hearing "Living in Another World" I ponied up the cash for a cassette and listened to it twice while walking back to my flat (it was a long walk). I was instantly enthralled with the record's effortless mix of organic and and electronic sounds and with the fabulous melodies. Ever since, it has been one of my favorite records.

BTW, it is a great CD to backpack around Europe with.

Happiness is easy with this album

Just a quick word about the first track, Happiness Is Easy: Simply one of the greatest songs of all time. It's STILL completely ahead of its time. Trip-hop and modern chill-out BOTH owe a HUGE debt to it and to this whole album in general (although maybe not the guitar bits). The track stars with one of the most crisply-produced, rhythmically-intricate beats you'll ever hear, and apart from the piano and organ parts, every other element (acoustic and electric bass, acoustic guitar, sax, trumpet) are results of some great improvisations, cut-up and intersperced throughout the length of the song like so much pixie dust, giving way to many jaw-dropping, blink-and-you'll miss-it moments (The richocheting snare at the beginning, small throbbing globs of acoustic bass, swirling guitar phrases). In essence, Happiness Is Easy remains THE late-night, driving-in-your-car track of ALL time. Anyone interested in brainy, intricately-but-not-over-produced avant rock that's still remarkable easy to listen to (like Doves and The Flaming Lips)shoud not miss this album. Be wary of further exploration of Talk Talk, though: The two albums preceding this are New Romantic synth-pop and the two succeding are challenging neo-classical concept albums with labourously-built, complex structures. Not for everyone, then. Lead-man Mark Hollis' sparse, fragile solo album from '98 ought to do the trick.

Recommendation Goes Wright!

To the reviewer who said this album was mostly unknown outside the circle of Talk Talk aficionados, you're in luck! I hadn't even HEARD of the band until I saw this album mentioned in an interview of Rick Wright, Pink Floyd's keyboardist. On a lark I decided to give it a try--and sure enough, his taste proved extraordinary.

"The simplicity of the songs and Mark Hollis's voice make this album just incredible," Mr. Wright had explained to Record Collector magazine. "The first tune, 'Happiness Is Easy', says it all--nothing but a bass, a snare and a weird chord. That's Talk Talk all over, great songs and simplicity with a twist ... Why does it touch me? Hard to say, but it's got the feelgood factor, which all my favourite records have..."

From the second I heard the opening to "Happiness is Easy", I knew every word of Mr. Wright's was dead-on accurate. "Colour of Spring" is indeed a most appropriate title--I immediately felt a sense of gentle, uplifting power coming from the music. Although pensive, sometimes even sad in the lyrics at times, he does not go overboard with it. Mr. Hollis' voice becomes like a musical instrument in its own right, mingling perfectly with the open, never overpowering musical arrangements.

Particularly striking about this album are the Hammond organ played by Steve Winwood, which floats gently in the background and provides each track is atmosphere. The acoustic guitar and piano seem to dance gracefully in and out of the songs. Overall, Colour of Spring is incredibly soothing, but without putting the listener to sleep. This is the perfect album to unwind from a stressful day, and definitely a recommendation worth listening to!