HISTORY REVISITED

Talk Talk

Crossover Prog

2.12 | 6 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Easy Livin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

"History reinvented" - Talk Talk's manager

The remixes on this album are not those which appeared on collections such as "A-sides, B-Sides" and "Remixed", which were carried out with the approval and involvement of the band (with the exception here of the Dub mix of "Happiness is easy"). These versions were commissioned by the band's record label Parlophone without the band's agreement, indeed Talk Talk subsequently took the label to court over the matter.

The tracks selected are most of those which appeared on the "Natural history, the best of" compilation of Talk Talk singles, hence the name of this collection. A variety of remixers are hired to add their treatment to the tracks, including Paul Webb, Justin Robertson and Fluke.

To be honest, it is hard to see what all the fuss was about. The songs are still entirely recognisable, most of the remixes being unadventurous and superficial. Apart from a slightly extended intro and some prosaic dance rhythms, Gary Miller's version of "Such a shame" for example is hard to distinguish from the original album track. Likewise, his work on "Today" appears to consist of the insertion of a few extraneous noises and little else, the remix running to a mere 3� minutes.

Fluke's version of "Life's what you make it" does at least try to generate some interest, the jungle noises and Two Tone beat which opens the track catching the ear. All that happens thereafter though is that the original track is overlaid on the new beat.

It almost seems as if Parlophone were too worried about upsetting the band, and ended up with an album designed by a committee. In the end, such compromises never work, and they ended up pleasing no one.

An opportunity missed.

Easy Livin | 2/5 | 2008-8-29

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Share this TALK TALK review

Social review comments () BETA

Review related links

Send comments to Easy Livin
Report this review (#181025)
Buy TALK TALK music online with PA partners
Show all TALK TALK MP3/Stream
Go to TALK TALK page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
Go to History Revisited page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
Search the Forum for TALK TALK related discussions