Mark Hollis is the former singer of the London group Talk Talk who scored big hits in the 1980s with hits such as Such A Shame and It's My Life. The last sign of life of the group, Laughing Stock, appeared in 1991. This new self-titled solo album seems even further removed from pop music as the later Talk Talk albums. Electric instruments are out of the question and the approach is more classically
… oriented than ever. Hollis' love for Satie is expressed in songs like The Color Of Spring and Inside Looking Out. Jazz influences are featured in Watershed, The Gift and The Daily Planet "where the latter song sounds very improvised. Only accompanied by an acoustic guitar Hollis manages to hit the sensitive chord with Westward Bound. (CK)more
