Living in Another World

"Living in Another World"
A vinyl record in the shape and image of an illustrated moth
Seven-inch picture disc
Single by Talk Talk
from the album The Colour of Spring
B-side"For What It's Worth"
Released3 March 1986 (3 March 1986)[1]
Recorded1985, London
Studio
GenreNew wave[4][5]
Length
  • 4:11 (7" Version)
  • 6:58 (Album Version)
  • 8:59 (12" Version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Tim Friese-Greene
Talk Talk singles chronology
"Life's What You Make It"
(1985) 		"Living in Another World"
(1986) 		"Give It Up"
(1986)
Music video
"Living in Another World" on YouTube

"Living in Another World" is a song by English band Talk Talk. It was recorded for the band's 1986 album The Colour of Spring and was the second single from the album, making the top 40 in Germany,[6] Switzerland,[7] the Netherlands[8] and Flanders.[9]

The track was one of those selected to promote contentious 1991 remix album History Revisited.[10] The artwork for the single was by James Marsh. Hammond organ is played by guest musician Steve Winwood. Harmonica is played by guest musician Mark Feltham.

Composition

The song has been noted for its cyclical musical structure. Kenny Anderson, aka King Creosote: "I never tire of [the song], and yet I don't quite understand how they managed to make it sound like a musical version of that famous Escher staircase."[11] Songwriter Mark Hollis was inspired by the modal jazz of Miles Davis.[12] In an interview on Italian TV in 1987, Hollis explained that the studies of Jean-Paul Sartre inspired the lyrics.[citation needed]

Artwork

The illustration for the song continued the "moth" theme developed by James Marsh for the Colour of Spring album and singles.[13] It was the only painting in the series to have pre-existed, having been created by Marsh for his first book. It appeared opposite a verse entitled "Tiger Moth".[14]

Music video

A promotional video for "Living in Another World" was directed by long-time collaborator Tim Pope. It features the band being suspended 20ft in the air (shot upside down but filmed the right way round), hanging onto a grand piano whilst a wind machine blows violently in their faces.

Cover versions

"Living in Another World" was covered by Lights featuring Darkstars for the 2012 tribute album Spirit of Talk Talk.[15]

References

  1. ^ Neiss, James (December 1991). "Talk Talk". Record Collector. London: Diamond Publishing Group. p. 23.
  2. ^ Unwin, Neville; Goodyer, Tim (April 1986). "Talkback". Home and Recording Studio.
  3. ^ Marsh, James; Roberts, Chris; Benjamin, Toby (2015). Spirit of Talk Talk (Paperback ed.). London: Rocket 88. p. 74. ISBN 9781906615956.
  4. ^ Terich, Jeff (2 March 2009). "The 90-Minute Guide: New Wave". Treble. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  5. ^ Phillips, Amy (31 August 2012). "Talk Talk's Mark Hollis Resurfaces with New Music for the Kelsey Grammer TV Show "Boss"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  6. ^ "Talk Talk Living in Another World". Offizielle Deutsche Charts. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Talk Talk - Living in Another World". Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Talk Talk - Living in Another World". Media Markt Top 40. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  9. ^ "Talk Talk - Living in Another World". ultratop.be. Retrieved 15 August 2017.
  10. ^ Neiss, James (December 1991). "Talk Talk". Record Collector. London: Diamond Publishing Group. p. 22.
  11. ^ Marsh, James; Roberts, Chris; Benjamin, Toby (2015). Spirit of Talk Talk (Paperback ed.). London: Rocket 88. p. 126. ISBN 9781906615956.
  12. ^ Myers, Ben (28 February 2011). "How Talk Talk spoke to today's artists". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  13. ^ Marsh, James; Roberts, Chris; Benjamin, Toby (2015). Spirit of Talk Talk (Paperback ed.). London: Rocket 88. p. 178. ISBN 9781906615956.
  14. ^ Marsh, James (1991). Bizarre Birds & Beasts. London: Pavilion Books. ISBN 1851457178.
  15. ^ "Living in Another World". 8tracks.com. Retrieved 14 August 2017.