Mark Hollis: A Perfect Silence

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The fact that Talk Talk started as a New Wave band and opened for Duran Duran on tour was more a case of mismarketing than an expression of intent by the band. Indeed, Phill Brown likened Hollis’s unforgiving standards to attempting to “bottle the spirit of improvised magic”. Two years before he died from cancer, at the age of 64 in February 2019, Mark Hollis and his wife moved from west London to the East Sussex market town of Heathfield, where they bought a house at the end of a secluded track. For the first time A Perfect Silence explains the realities and explodes the myths surrounding Hollis and Talk Talk's career, and in doing so reveals the working patterns, sense of humour and desire for privacy of the man himself.

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First edition hardback in slipcase, signed by Ben Wardle and Talk Talk album illustrator James marsh to title page.

We met in a pub of his choosing in Wimbledon and, as we talked over an afternoon pint, I found him awkward, often inarticulate and evasive. Ed was many things to many people, but most importantly, Ed’s love and knowledge of music and his eclectic music collection would be the spark that fired up Hollis. If there’s anyone here who hasn’t really done Talk Talk yet their 5 albums would be a great project. Everything begins with Hollis’ older brother, Ed Hollis – a Dj, producer, manager, and manic inspirator. Outside of Britain they had more success, notably in Germany, Italy, France and the Netherlands following the release of their second album in 1984.From the beginning, Talk Talk was a rocket with a clear trajectory – discarding elements, parts, and (lunar) modules along its way as it moved through the spheres. Hollis was close to his brother, who became addicted to heroin and died in his thirties, and in those early interviews he cited the influence of John Coltrane and Miles Davis as well as the classical composers Béla Bartók and Claude Debussy and experimental rock and blues bands. Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. The final album was spare and minimal and recorded entirely with acoustic instruments, and at times Hollis’ voice is scarcely audible.

Later on, legendary independent record label 4AD tried to convince Hollis into recording again, on his terms, but ultimately Hollis was in a world and time of his own.Read more about the condition New: A new, unread, unused book in perfect condition with no missing or damaged pages. They help him fill in some of the gaps in the story: where Hollis was living at certain times; how the albums were recorded and in what circumstances (rumours about opium-laced sessions during the recording of Spirit of Eden are shown to be nonsense); and what it was like to be around Hollis – sometimes fun and sometimes maddening.