Virtually ignored upon its initial release,
Laughing Stock continues to grow in stature and influence by leaps and bounds. Picking up where
Spirit of Eden left off, the album operates outside of the accepted sphere of
rock to create music which is both delicate and intense; recorded with a large
classical ensemble, it defies easy categorization, conforming to very few structural precedents -- while the gently hypnotic
"Myrrhman" flirts with
ambient textures, the percussive
"Ascension Day" drifts toward
jazz before the two sensibilities converge to create something entirely new and different on
"New Grass." The epic
"After the Flood," on the other hand, is an atmospheric whirlpool laced with jackhammer guitar feedback and
Mark Hollis' remarkably plaintive vocals; it flows into
"Taphead," perhaps the most evocative, spacious, and understated piece on the record. A work of staggering complexity and immense beauty,
Laughing Stock remains an under-recognized masterpiece, and its echoes can be heard throughout much of the finest
experimental music issued in its wake. ~ Jason Ankeny
![Talk Talk Talk [Expanded]](http://prodimage.images-bn.com/pimages/0886972430126_p0_v2_s90x140.jpg "Talk Talk Talk [Expanded]")
