SPIRIT OF TALK TALK - ROYAL FESTIVAL HALL 26TH NOVEMBER 2019 - CONCERT REVIEW

Somewhat incorrectly dismissed as New Romantic try-hards in the early to mid '80s, Talk Talk quickly swept aside criticism to become a seriously adored outfit with a trio of evocative and atmospheric albums that might not have stopped the record-label executives from palpitating, but did ensure a place in the annals of music history.

All corners of Talk Talk's touching melancholic world were ably explored last night at London's South Bank as part of a celebration of the late Mark Hollis, founder and principle songwriter of the band that gifted the world a raft of great singles such as Such a Shame, It's My Life and the perennial Life's What You Make It.

Previous contributors to the 2012 album Spirit of Talk Talk and self-confessed fans ably performed guest vocals alongside a hand-picked band, under the watchful eye of pianist, arranger and collaborator Phil Ramocon and synthesist Ian Curnow. Original member Simon Brenner also brought a young crack pop-rock band along with him to lend revved-up weight to early gems Talk Talk, Today and The Party's Over. The proggy histrionics on the latter were perhaps the only negative of the entire evening - the title-track of the debut-album didn't require quite so much riffing, given the original was a synth-pop ballad. But it really didn't matter - you couldn't fault the youthful energy during Today which, as they say, went off. You hope that Mark Hollis might have wanted it this way.

It was the later material that really shone. Mark Gardiner and Andy Bell of Ride treated us to glorious and respectful renditions of The Rainbow and Living In Another World, while Wild Beasts' Hayden Thorpe, Joan As Police Woman, Hot Chip's Alexis Taylor (great rendition of Hollis' solo The Colour Of Spring) and the always effervescent yet quietly subtle Turin Brakes left their own impressive stamp on some of the more recent Talk Talk treasures. Remember this: some of the songs performed tonight hadn't been aired on stage by the original band. That's a 'mind blown' moment.

The special two-part show closed out with Jane Weaver sweetly crooning her way through Life's What You Make It, before the entire cast returned to the stage to soak up some well-deserved applause. I swear I saw grown adults get just a little lachrymose as the cheers rang out around the auditorium and I for one hope this isn't going to be a one-off idea. It would certainly translate very well at a few boutique festivals on the circuit.

10/10