Spirit Of Talk Talk

The Truth: In September, fierce panda will be releasing Spirit Of Talk Talk, a double album which features 30 contemporary acts from around the globe re-inventing, re-interpreting and just generally rebooting many of Talk Talk's greatest moments precisely 30 years since 'Talk Talk' made its mark on the mainstream. This twin CD opus comes swaddled in artwork by creative Talk Talk stalwart James Marsh and sees profits going to the Rare Bird Club.

It was 1982 when Mark Hollis and crew first soared into view with a slew of deceptively commercial hit singles. However by the time Talk Talk delivered the seminal The Colour Of Spring album (their third) in 1986, which brilliantly merged pop instinct with experimental flair, they'd long since shed any hint of being mere also (duran du)rans. Whereupon Hollis turned his back on the mainstream completely and made three further albums (two as Talk Talk, one solo) of breathtaking scope and mindblowing minimalism before - obviously - fading from view.

Some of the acts, notably King Creosote, White Lies, Zero 7, Turin Brakes, Goldheart Assembly, Joan As Police Woman and Linton Kwesi Johnson, will already be familiar to listeners. Many of them are creeping out of the shadows of outfits such as The Verve (RIP), Arcade Fire, Grandaddy, Electric Soft Parade, Guillemots and Bon Iver - we'll let you work out who. One of them, Ian Curnow, even played keyboards for Talk Talk first time around. There are collaborations and imaginations (gently) running riot but all the acts, be they old or new, are united by their enthusiasm and the fact that they have given their services and indeed recordings for free. The hope is that long term Talk Talk fans will discover some new likeminded loves among these acts, while followers of these current vagabonds will be exposed to the joys of the Talk Talk oeuvre.

Spirit Of Talk Talk then: 30 tracks. Two compact discs. Several labours of love. Perhaps even a notorious perfectionist such as Mark Hollis would appreciate the effort put into this project. Now, that's the spirit...