Talk Talk were so far removed from their new wave roots when they sorta dissolved after 'Laughing Stock' that to say this is an absolute work of art is no lie. It is minimalism made tuneful, not made by people who couldn't play more complex material but by someone wishing to ride the lower end of sanity on through to more complex emotions. The piano is central in all the songs and it has a chilly, poignant presence. The feeling is more of stark, effortless coldness. Then comes Mark's voice and it feels like he is barely giving enough effort to enunciate the lyrics so that they are barely above an audible mumble.
Every song is great.
The opener, a real skeletal piece with discrete piano tones and Mark's whispered aches, then segues into the rest of the record where the musical accompaniment includes cornets, harmonicas, flutes, bassoons, cor anglais and trumpet. Your typical rock setup. Kinda what fans of Bark Psychosis might find super appealing. If you need to get one overpriced import record this year to impress all your friends with well then this is it.