For anyone who's ever created music they care deeply about, getting to hear insight like this is a gift. I'm so sad that Mark Hollis is gone, but happy in the sense that someone with such clear heart and conviction must have had a life very well lived.
Omg lol what? I don't know if I've ever seen an NSP comment on a video and no way did I expect it to be here. Glad to see you sharing the love you have for Mark and his work. Such a brilliant artist.
It's so poignant listening to this now, 5 years after he left us. He created wonderfully soulful music in its truest sense. I keep coming back to Talk Talk and his solo album and my answer to 'favourite song' and 'favourite album' is, unhesitatingly, I Believe in You and Spirit. Stock follows where Spirit blazed the initial trail, and it's also just brilliant. RIP Mark Hollis, the quiet genius.
Such a humble sounding, private man. It is hardly believable that his "singing voice" was so powerful, if you get my meaning. Sad to hear of his death- "Life's What You Make It" is one of the great songs.
Mark Hollis was before his time, Radiohead got all the attention years later but Hollis did all of it so, so long before that! I guess eventually, like all true greats he will be recognised but sadly after he is gone. He took us to the core, the essence of what contemporary music can be and left us to simply marvel at it and pick things up from there.....glad to have been on the planet at the same time as this marvellous man
wonderful words Phill, really ... exactly what I think too. I listen to it since 1984 !! when Spirit of Eden, Laughing Stock and his eponymous album came out, all the people around me took me for an extraterrestrial !!! Nobody understood what his music was doing to me, his voice, heart and soul, I kept saying he was an unknown genius. I have listened to it every day for so many years, I have never regretted doing it, following it, there, where his music took me, to heaven on earth. Like you, I am very happy to have lived on this earth at the same time as him, and at the same time, I miss him terribly, I am really devastated by his death. It's very very very hard ... 😭😭💔💔💔🖤🖤🖤
@@kskess No fucking way. NO. The Hall of Lame is the complete and utter antithesis of what Mark Hollis - and Talk Talk - stood for. The Hall of Lame is a corporate wankfest of everything that's rotten about the industry - commercialisation, dinosaurs, brown-nosers, liggers, etc, etc. I respect your admiration for the artist but there is absolutely no way in hell Mark would want his name mentioned in the same breath as that.
He lived in a supremely meditative state. Absolutely in the present moment and not bothered about sales, image, audience reaction. Mark Hollis was Creativity at its peak.
My heart goes out to Mark Hollis' family. I was shocked and saddened to hear that a great musician that left an indelible mark on me has died. He's not much older than me. Talk Talk were a part of the great era of the 80's NEW WAVE period. Mark's voice stood out and he made a unique contribution to a very important time in my life and many people's lives. Thanks Mark .
Mark will never be forgotten. He was an enigma in many ways. I think his sunglasses on stage showed how much he of an I travertine he really was but you'd never know it because his performances were eye opening and you felt so amazing. A voice not to be copied ever. No one had his range nor his love of music. I read the dice man. Mind boggling and so evident influenced in several songs. Mark you deserved more but I think you had achieved what you wanted. Miss you always.
I have 6 children between the ages of 13 till 3 years old and they adore Mark's music, like it is a natural sound for them. It's so amazing and touching to see their reaction to his music...thank you, Mark, for creating this for us.
That..? Is awesome. You are clearly a great parent and have, either through nurture, nature or both, created some truly discriminating music aficionados. Bravo!! Too bad you wrote this four years ago. I was going to suggest you capture some of those reactions in a video and post it for others to appreciate.
he has always come across as apologetic and defensive about his art, and there is a real world-weariness and lack of confidence in him which belies both his art and the beautiful and passionate performances of his extraordinary voice. if you read this mark, we are behind you all the way, and we miss you.
A lot of artists are never happy with what they've produced, they think they could've done better. The great aspect of 'Punk Rock' is that it didn't matter, it was raw and fresh and they didn't care. Punk wasn't a sound it was an attitude, in that case STATUS QUO were a PUNK band. They obviously never cared what anybody thought. Over-produced music lacks spontaneity- REO Speedwagon etc
He was better than those who think they were, reclusive for doing music for himself, he had a different understanding, not of tunes, not of notes, but words followed by the latter two. Genius.
There is a lot of sadness in his eyes,it could be that he had an unhappy childhood,sometimes unhappiness as a child renders a person extremely sensitive,others become bullies but many become empaths.
Mark always seemed like a flood of creative consciousness doing his best to communicate just a small fraction of how he sees the world. What a guy. We miss you, Mark!
Love this voice, even if not singing!!! Love the way he s expressing his thoughts and speeks non stop in a waterfall like a child! So much Emotion in it!
"The optimum thing of anyone can hope for is that music exists outside the time of which it is written". Well, I'll think you've succeeded in that Mark! Thanks! i will enjoy it now more than ever!
One of the finest recording artists the UK has ever produced. Incredibly well crafted albums, the listening pleasure just increases with every passing year. Musicality of the finest order. Just superb.
Concur, even Talk Talk fans did not all appreciate the last 2 records considering the commercial failure when released, which is a shame as they are the most beautiful master pieces Talk Talk produced.
Spirit and Stock are works of outstanding genius. I love prog, so a hundred notes per bar is standard, but Mark has taught the world that a few well chosen notes spread out over time is equally majestic. Thankyou for sharing your imagination with the rest of us.
Love the fact that he is really thinking about what he says and correcting/amending himself in certain places. He is discovering and refining what he thinks as he speaks.
Being a great fan of Mark Hollis and Talk Talk I never could get Laughing Stock - it seemed unfathomable. Then a month or so ago I played the album again and it all fell into place and it is without doubt masterpiece. Many thanks for this interview which gives us a greater insight of this work.
The word 'genius' is thrown around far too liberally, whether it be it a creative, academic or sporting endeavour. But it's a label that sits deservedly with Mark Hollis, a gentle man and gentleman who simply let his music do the talking. He disappeared from public view in the '90s, and now he's fully gone -- but his music is a delicate goldmine for future generations to unearth.
Yeah, once I heard about this unreleased Talk Talk album (the second one, which was scrapped & reworked into It's My Life) I tried to find out as much as I could... their music is almost like glimpses into another world that we don't really know.
loughing stock is by far one the greatest albums ever made by human being. there is no words to describe that huge heuge huge album. thanks for this great post!!
Honest and so pure. This Music is fragile and True. I cannot find words to describe the beauty of the latter Talk Talk albums. Considering the Time and efforts they all put in is even more laudable. It struck me with the same impact as Bach's St. Mathew passion and Miles' Bitches Brew.
God bless Mr mark hollis an absolute genius on the quiet so ahead of they’re time, Laughing stock and spirit of eden are like paintings, they take time but when the times been put in they’re masterpieces
Lovely to hear Mark Hollis talking about this album. You can tell hes very proud of this album. Hes right about just listening to the album in its entirety. Would love to hear new material from Mark and the band.
He's absolutely right... I never, ever listen to Laughing Stock while doing anything else, or if I think I'm going to be interrupted. When I was first recommended it, I listened to it whilst cleaning the bathroom(!), and I didn't 'get' it. Then I listened to it right when I got into bed and just lay there with it, and it hit me hard. It's my favourite album ever, but I rarely listen to it. When I do, I do my best to clear my head out and pretend it's some kind of echo chamber for the music to reverberate in (though this doesn't stop me from crying during that After the Flood solo. How does one note feel so gut-wrenching?)
I have this promotional cassette, which PolyDor sent to radio stations around the time Laughing Stock came out. I was working in college radio as a music director at the time and got a copy from them. Whole interview is fantastic.
Spirit of Eden was a moment of convergence for me. Perception permanently altered and benchmarked. An expansive singularity the first time I listened. Not just the sound... but the space between. Not just the note... but the bend. New Grass the most genuine bridge to my nostalgic memories of real or imagined spirituality. The album as a whole simply “true and sublime”...
Mark adored, what a cursed and terrible date ..... A year already ... It's strange to say that despite your voluntary absence, it was good to say that you were still there, somewhere ... And then, it there was this horrible February 25… I could never forget this tear in my heart…. So dear Mark, impossible for me not to think of you today. Your music and sublime voice have been with me every day for so long. I love you for eternity ... Irreplaceable, incomparable, unforgettable…. The BIGGEST, in my heart and in my head, forever, IT'S YOU ...
Many thanks for sharing, Nick..totally lost for words re the man and his/their music and just how much it means to continue to listen to such works of utter brilliance
i love this rare interview cos its all about his music, which was all important to him, so truthfull in all ways. He is 63 now and i wonder sometimes if he will ever make an album again or sing live, i can dream. His solo album is so good , i just disappear into another world.
Hi there, just located a copy of this tape! This is the entire interview, unfortunately, very much wish it was 40 minutes longer! Favorite album of all time. Thank you for the upload!!
Very few musicians actually make art (and if they do they are never recognized during their lifetime) -- he is one of them -- and the passage of time has made this unarguable . . .
Miss you so much mark a smart talented caring guy who gave so much to the world who helped people through there despair and should them the beauty of nature and gave them hope and lifted our spirits a new spirit is in eden now rip heaven bless you
I very much love the Spirit of Eden album - it absolutely blew me away when I first heard it in the late 80s and I still love it now, even though it doesn't affect me in quite the same way any more.
News of Mark s death compelled me to pull out his self-titled debut album and listen to it for the umpteenth time. That album is a masterpiece and will live on forever.
Glad you mention his solo masterpiece. He even managed to surpass the 2 TalkTalk diamonds. This record is so true, pure and fragile. He shared his deepest inner self with the listener. It struck me deeply when hear it for the first time. I understand he was finished with his career as there was most likely nothing left to be said or whisper and I think in no way, he would be ever able to match that again.
@@morfi3395 Agreed. I've said this in other Hollis-related threads, so apologies for repetition. I love music of all kinds, and there are a ton of albums that I will eternally cherish; but I swear to this day I occasionally feel compelled to listen to Mark Hollis in its entirety. Each listen makes me feel I've heard something in a particular tune for the first time. And even though that's probably not true, it's the subtle aspect that makes it feel new. I love this album with all my heart.
@@mggailitis7231 no worries, I am repeating this all the time, especially since Talk Talk is mostly known for their hits in the 80'ties. It would be a waste for each music lover out there not to know his art. Keep on spreading the word!
@@morfi3395 Talk about spreading the word, a friend of mine who is going through some hard times recently showed up at my place unannounced while I happened to be listening to the album. He is highly critical, which is probably why I respect his taste in music, literature, etc. Anyway, he showed up to complain about something before pausing for a moment to ask what I was listening to. When told, he paused for another ten seconds before saying, "This is good." I know this means nothing to a total stranger, but it meant a lot to me. The sounds momentarily stopped the guy in his tracks.
@@mggailitis7231 Thank you for sharing...I listened to it again recently and A life 1895 - 1915 made me cry shortly. There are only a few music pieces which do that and Mark is definitely one of them. A genuine soul.
Could listen to this genius talk ALL DAY about music ....he just comes in at another angle.How many artists have this type of integrity to get to their last album and say "that's it done.Full stop ".No reunions...no classic album tour [now don't get me wrong I'd be salivating like a dog on heat with both fists full of Wonga]just hitting a peak and leaving it at that.Such a great magnificent band of imperial status.
So sad Mark has left this world: such brilliant music which I keep coming back to so often.. and I now have to give up all hope of enjoying some New musical gifts from him: it was not to be, alas.....RIP
I really enjoyed the mystery of this enigmatic band who I never visualised in the day, now surviving years later its sad that Mark passed still young and having no doubt reflected a wonderful view of the life, his colleagues and friends go on. even the mention of this history from his brother to the interviews is a glimpse of someone's career that I had always wanted to emulate and served to provide pleasure and a gift of what was possible.
