LONDON 1986

Live is what you make it ...

This is an excellent official documentation of the rare live performances of TALK TALK. Recorded in 1986 I don't know why this gem lurked for 12 years! The concert shows some new experimental elements which are fitting the band to the Prog Rock genre. Eight tracks were offered - a best of collection from their pre-'Spirit Of Eden'-phase. Mark Hollis concentrates himself at the vocal parts and all the instruments are acting in a perfect interaction.

First of all the five older songs from the synthie-pop influenced 'It's my life' (1984) are convincing me because they are performing them in a newer, fresher and longer version.Tomorrow started opens with a little sensitive piano solo and continues in the typical and unique TALK TALK manner to perform very sentimental and painfull songs. Also Does Caroline know works much better accompanied by a piano. Renee is the best song they've ever made, so sentimental, so emotional!!! Life is what you make it, Living in another world and Give it up from 'The colour of spring' - produced in the same year - are good but nearly in the same way as the studio versions.

This album manifests the disengagement of TALK TALK from Synthiepop. Much better than a mainstream effort anyhow deserving 4 stars with its melancholic and atmospheric songs.

This live recording captures the band in a very interesting period of their career. This was Talk Talk's transition phase where the band have already determined their future actions on Spirit Of Eden while still performing their greatest hits from the two previous albums.

Most of the tracks from the album It's My Life are greatly improved upon in this stripped-down live setting and the minimalistic approaches are already audible here. Still most of the so-called hits tend to stick out too much and aside from the wonderfully performed It's My Life, most of them sound less exciting in comparison to the well produced studio counterparts. My two previous lines might contradict each other but hopefully final rating will sort out any confusions.

Either way this is a great prequel to the two next albums from Talk Talk since it features all the essential material from the two previous albums performed in a way that fits much better with the band's later style. An excellent addition to your collection after that you've heard Spirit Of Eden and Laughing Stock!

***** star songs: It's My Life (6:29)

**** star songs: Tomorrow Started (7:52) Life's What You Make It (4:31) Does Caroline Know? (7:36) Living In Another World (7:05) Such A Shame (9:01) Renée (7:45)

*** star songs: Give It Up (5:55)

Total rating: 4,01

The progression of the band started.

Until then TalkTalk had not produced anything similar or close to this wonderful musical expression, recognizing The Colour of Spring as a good and competent album. Tomorrow Started went from being a song dominated by synth pop sound to be an absolute classic of the group, after this performance captured on this live album. The introduction and piano performance in the whole song, the prominent and distinctive Webb´s bass and the excellent, emotional and personal voice of Hollis, give an epic feel amazing. It became one of my favorite songs of the band and of the decade.

Does Caroline Know?, It's My Life, Renée and Such A Shame are other pearls masterfully executed here, much more interesting than the studio versions.

Unfortunately, there is no official live album of the post, but "London 1986" is an outstanding legacy of the band.