Natural History: The Very Best Of Talk Talk (CD 1990)

So there we were discussing music that mattered to us. A friend pulled out his i-pod and there was this talk talk track.. It jogged me and took me back a good few years...I looked and found it on e-bay having seen it in the local record store for £11.50 and being under fiscal pressures I had the joy of getting this album plud a few more from e-bay and loaded them on my i-pod. Cheaper than an i-tunes download and I get to keep the CD which I just love.
As for the transaction - Paypal took care of that in moments and the goods were here three days later. RESULT!

For those only familiar with MTV hits like "Talk Talk" and "It's My Life," this compilation is the beginning of a revelation. Talk Talk mastermind Mark Hollis is an eccentric genius whose hook-laden hits hide an equally satisfying catalog of art-rock experimentation. As Talk Talk evolved, Hollis (opting for a cut-up technique that anticipated the Pro-Tools revolution) ditched synth-pop and produced some of the most sublime late-night records ever. Think Stevie Winwood tranquilized by listening to too much Blue Nile and you start to get the picture. But fair warning: buy this album, and there's a good chance you'll end up purchasing the whole catalog

i want it because i like talk talk. talk talk is a good album to buy very clear sound! high quality of the music.

Having converted most of my old music collection to CD I was thrilled to find this Album on CD. Excellent CD.

I SAW THE VIDEO FOR TALK TALK ON VIRGIN MEDIA, NOT THE ONE WITH THE MUTE PEOPLE BUT THE BETTER ONE WITH JUST THE BAND IN AND WAS REALLY TAKEN WITH MARK HOLLISS'S VOICE AND THE PASSION IN THAT PARTICULAR SONG. BRINGS BACK FOND MEMORIES OF THE 80'S AND PUT ME ON A MISSION TO FIND MORE MATERIAL BY THIS HUGELY UNDER RATED BAND. LETS GET A PETITION STARTED TO BRING THE RECLUSIVE MARK OUT FROM RETIREMENT AND A TALK TALK REVIVAL.

I was actually given the cassette version of this album in 1990 by a friend who, having bought it, declared he wasn't really keen. The PHILISTINE! From the first listening it blew me away! Beforehand, I had only really heard "Today", "Life's what you make it" and "It's my life" and, although I instinctively liked those, never got around to buying any one particular album. "Natural History" gave me a taste of what I'd been missing over the years.

Mark Hollis's vocal delivery, strange and at times almost ethereal, (amalgam of Bryan Ferry and Mick Hucknall, anyone?) can be powerful or haunting by turns, while the punchy bass and percussion lines alternate between driving, almost frantic, and laid-back but irresistably forward-marching. Later use of more acoustic instruments (notably guitar on "Happiness is Easy") works well, and demonstrates efforts to expand the group's pallette.

Make of the lyrics what you will; they encompass 'In-yer-face'("Talk Talk", "Today"), through 'Quiet Reflection and /or Irony' ("Happiness is Easy", enhanced by the gorgeous innocence of a Primary School choir) to a seemingly 'Balls-Out-Introspective' ("I Believe in You", apparently laced with Choral Boy Soprano effect) and ending with the ironic "Desire". The latter lulls the listener into a false sense of serenity before unleashing a tirade of massive sound and harsh words - perfect if you've fallen asleep during the first few cadences. For the full effect, listen at high volume from the start - you have been warned!

Superb stuff, spanning the life, and direction changes, of a much under-rated group.

Had this album on vinyl many moons ago, had to get it on CD all very good songs.

I much prefer this version of "it's my life" then No Doubts version.

I grew up in the 80's and enjoyed the music of that era. Talk Talk was one of my favourite bands and I had some of their music on records. I heard one of their songs played as a background theme tune on Trigger Happy Tv and it reminded me of how much I enjoyed the song and their music. So I looked on ebay and found a really good buy. The CD has 'Today' and 'Talk Talk' two of the most famous songs of Talk Talk and the rest of the album is good, though the songs I play most often are the two mentioned.