LAUGHING STOCK

On Laughing Stock, even the jazz influences which provided some sort of cohesion and reference point on Spirit of Eden begin to break down, and Talk Talk's role as the sires of post- rock is even more evident, with long brooding sections resembling territory which would later be explored by the likes of Tortoise and Godspeed You Black Emperor. I'm inclined to agree with Phil Brown, engineer on the project, when he describes it as being "dark and claustrophobic"; I'd also say this is a mild step down from Spirit of Eden, because whilst the band have tapped into a powerful and unique sound, they also don't quite seem to be comfortable with it and aren't entirely sure what to do with it. Not surprising, of course - an entire subgenre of artists haven't yet exhausted the possibilities opened up here - but it does lead to a less cohesive work than its predecessor.