LAUGHING STOCK

Probably the most beautiful rock CD I own, Talk Talk's Laughing Stock is the swan song of the band who is credited for founding the post-rock genre. A marvelous thing about Laughing Stock is that it doesn't seem to have been made in any particular decade; it is a truly timeless album. Mark Hollis and Tim Friese-Green gathered some magnificent studio musicians recorded Laughing Stock in much the same way as they did on the previous album Spirit of Eden. Hollis and Friese-Green were able to milk six majestic pieces of post-rock out of the process of recording improvisations (based around themes) and editing them down. Highlights include the minimalistic opener Myrrhman, Ascension Day, and After the Flood with its quiet but powerful organ parts and slightly swinging drum beat. IMO, Laughing Stock is Talk Talk's creative peak. Although some will say that Spirit of Eden is Talk Talk's best and important album, Laughing Stock still stubbornly holds its place in my CD collection as one of my top 10/desert-island discs.