Speak Speak have introduced a brand new half-speed reissue of their basic 1988 album ‘Spirit Of Eden’.
The band – made up on the time of singer and multi-instrumentalist Mark Hollis, bassist Paul Webb and drummer Lee Harris – made a radical departure from their early synthpop sound with ‘Spirit Of Eden’, with Hollis and producer Tim Friese-Greene recording for a lot of hours at a time and modifying the tracks down to suit the album format.
The report veered in an eerie, ambient-influenced route, embracing jazz, dub and classical music. Its ethereal sound and experimental recording course of would turn out to be extremely influential, and is usually credited as being an early landmark within the post-rock style.
The band had already trialled lots of the strategies on their third album ‘The Color Of Spring’ in 1986, however many view ‘Spirit Of Eden’ as their most interesting hour, and NME named it the ninety fifth best album of all time in 2013.
The reissue has been overseen by Harris and Hollis’ son Charlie, alongside producer Matt Colton, and it is going to be launched on February 6, 2026 – you’ll be able to pre-save/pre-order your copy right here.
Speak Speak went on to launch yet one more album, 1991’s ‘Laughing Inventory’, earlier than Hollis determined to withdraw from the music business. He launched a single self-titled solo album in 1998.
A documentary movie Speak Speak: In A Silent Manner, which centered on the making of ‘Spirit Of Eden’, was launched in 2021.
In an interview on the time, archived by Rock’s Again Pages, Hollis stated in regards to the album: “It’s actually a response to the music that’s round for the time being ‘cos most of that’s shit. It’s solely radical within the fashionable context. It’s not radical in comparison with what was occurring 20 years in the past.
He added: “If we’d have delivered this album to the report firm 20 years in the past they wouldn’t have batted an eyelid.”
Discussing the enduring affect of Hollis, Elbow’s Man Garvey advised Mojo in 2012: “Mark Hollis began from punk and by his personal admission he had no musical means. To go from solely having the urge, to writing a few of the most timeless, intricate and unique music ever is as spectacular because the moon landings.”
Hollis died from most cancers in February 2019 on the age of 64.
