Spring music for a good mood

Last week, I recommended a couple of albums that were laid-back and dreamy for the spring season, but today I will be taking a turn and looking at an album that screams spring. It’s an album that is so pleasant and perfectly tempered that it might be more spring than Alabama’s definition. That album is “The Colour of Spring” by Talk Talk. 

“The Colour of Spring” is nestled between two better-known parts of Talk Talk’s discography. Most people know them from their albums “The Party’s Over” and “It’s My Life,” which were popular synthpop albums from the early 1980s. Sometimes you can still hear the song “It’s My Life” in the background at restaurants and stores. Their albums after “The Colour of Spring” are more well known in online music circles and post-rock communities. “Spirit of Eden” and “Laughing Stock” are known for their more abstract and organic sound, and both are known for being foundational albums of the post-rock genre. 

“The Colour of Spring” is the perfect marriage between both parts of Talk Talk’s career. For this album, they have a very apparent nature theme to their sound, with many songs having elements that make the listener feel like they were at the public park with friends and even utilizes actual nature sounds.  

The first single off the album, “Life's What You Make It,” is a perfect example of this naturalistic sound. Throughout the song, there's a programmed drum and bassline that gives the song a great anchoring point. The song combines these with three layers of vocals to make an uplifting sound that feels like you’re outside during the evening. On top of all of that, there’s a guitar line that comes in at different points to accentuate Mark Hollis’ vocals and lyrics that tie everything together. The song also has a killer music video that visually represents the song well. The video features close-ups of nature and all of the band members playing and singing.  

On the opposite end, “I Don’t Believe In You” feels like you’re outside in the morning. It’s a much more relaxed song than “Life’s What You Make It” but is controlled enough to where everything is interesting and moving at a good pace.  

Hollis has a great delivery of his lyrics here, and the song conforms to how much emotion he brings into the song. The guitar break during the song is wonderful as well, with the guitar ebbing and flowing as needed. The whole thing feels harmonious and willing to move. 

The whole album also has an aggressively uplifting feeling to it sonically, which adds to many of the songs’ tendencies to combine synths and organic instruments. “Give it Up” is a great example of this. The whole thing sounds like you’re out on the lake in your dad’s boat.  

The song uses piano hits and a synthesized organ sound to almost inject the listener’s ears with happiness. This song is also just slow enough to where the listener can process everything completely before moving on, making the listening experience pleasant to some. 

Overall, this album is wonderful during springtime. If you ever want to spring into a wonderful mood, this album definitely has your back. I wholeheartedly recommend this album to anyone who enjoys a bit of sun or happy music in their life.