Final studio album from the UK's Talk Talk. You might be most familiar with Talk Talk's "It's My Life," a fine single in its own right, but their late career output took an entirely different track. Flush with the cash from the success of their early career they were able to experiment more freely in the studio. Laughing Stock is largely the work of vocalist Mark Hollis and producer Tim Friese-Greene, as the other members of the band had left by this point. The duo explore strains of rock, jazz, classical, and ambient music as they had on their previous album, Spirit of Eden. Where they dipped their toes into a pool of experimentation with that album, Laughing Stock is their vision fully realized. Hollis uses his voice more like and instrument than a delivery vehicle for declarative vocals while the instrumentation floats by, simple and repetitive. This is not the Talk Talk of 80s videos, it's a more contemplative and soothing affair. Six tracks in all. Released by Polydor.

• black vinyl pressing
• European import
• music label: Polydor 2016

reviewed by Wilted Lilly 01/2016