LAUGHING STOCK

absolutely essential listening for anyone tired of the old 4/4, verse-chorus-verse, guitar/bass/drum bullshite. experimental yet never without great musicality. takes a few listens to fully appreciate, and not something you want to spin everyday - though I have at times. also has phenomenal staying power, perhaps because it's symphonic in scope, completely non-formulaic and difficult to easily grasp. this and Spirit of Eden, as well as Mark Hollis' eponymous solo effort (sadly he made only one), form a masterful trilogy of progressive stuff, that's very hard to believe was created 15 years ago. to put these revolutionary creations on context, that's about the same time that WHAM was on top of the charts!