Hommage to Mark Hollis of Talk Talk

Mark Hollis died this week. Who’s Mark Hollis you say? He was the singer and songwriter of a band called Talk Talk. You’ll certainly know one or two of his songs. ‘It’s My Life’ – no it’s not a song by Gwen Stefani, no doubt the Millennials out there think it’s hers - and 'Life’s What You Make It' are amongst my favourites. And two great songs. How do you define a great song? Subjective, of course. ‘It’s My Life’ has forty million hits on You-Tube. Granted, that doesn’t prove its greatness. ‘Nothings Gonna Change My Love For You’ by Glen Mederios has twenty-eight million.  A powerful and moving pop song with a fantastic bassline, its subject is man’s decimation of wildlife and all things natural. A worthy topic. I discovered them when I saw the video of ‘Life’s What You Make It’ back around 1990. An epic song with a deep piano beat that drives it, emotive vocals, pertinent words and some great guitar. It was partly the video which drew me in. Shot at night in Wimbledon or Wandsworth common I think, capturing the nocturnal antics of the various creatures. it is gothic and fantastic.                       

I can’t claim to be a Talk Talk fan, if being a fan engenders quoting every song, every album, but the songs I listen to I love. He has a unique voice, not perhaps the best range or technique but the emotive nature fits the music perfectly. Try listening to 'I Believe In' You from Spirit of Eden clasping your fingers together and raising them to the sky and letting them separate as the music flows up into the air. It’s quite a holistic moment. There’s a sadness in his voice, a fragility that’s very powerful. The crueller amongst you might suggest it sounds like’s having a hernia at times but don’t let that put you off.

            The thing is, Mark Hollis left the music business decades ago. It wasn’t for him. He wanted to be a family man and music and family, for him, were mutually exclusive. Admirable gesture or perhaps not. Maybe it was entirely normal for him. I spent three months, a few summers ago, hoping to meet him. I worked in a wine shop in Wimbledon Village, South-West London. It was the summer Andy Murray won Wimbledon for the first time that summer. Funny that. Mark was apparently an occasional customer. I would have shook his hand and said thank-you but sadly I never saw him. His music touches me and many others in a unique way.

            Their final album, Spirit Of Eden, a complex and at times tricky record but with moments of true majesty contrasts powerfully with their first record, when record company influence attempting to tap into the commercial pop world, seems a factor. Listening to it, I can’t help feeling a little provocation.  A slap in the face to those money motivated, record company executives. I wonder if that was part of his motivation with the record’s nature. It’s obtuseness at times is quite something. Important to remember, money is not the source of all evil. Suits are.  Thanks for the music, Mark. And the words and the voice...