Talk Talk stopped live live in 1986. The aforementioned name slash was too a large strike. Other than, strangely, this album and its singles were comparatively ignored in their native UK, even though they maintained a substantial cult following.

They eventually abandoned the New Wave style totally with the slight classic The Colour of Spring in 1986. Guests on the book included Steve Winwood. The result was a mix of rock, jazz, classical, and ambient melody. While critically praised, the album was not as commercially viable as its predecessors, and the group declared they would not tour in support of it. Throughout the creation of Spirit of Eden, Talk Converse manager Keith Aspden had attempted to gratis the group as of their recording agreement by means of EMI.

After many months of litigation, the band in the end succeeded in extracting themselves as of the agreement. They free Laughing Stock on the Verve Records imprint in 1991. By this time, Webb had absent the group.

Laughing Stock adopted an even more minimalist style than its predecessor, but this did not stop it achieving a respectable Pinnacle 30 presentation in the UK Albums Chart. With the band now free as of EMI, the label released the display compilation Usual History in 1990. Surprisingly, it went on to sell over one million copies in Britain unaccompanied and rose to number 3 in the UK album chart. Next up on this renewed popular interest in the group, the label free The past Revisited in 1991, a compilation of 12 inch singles and alternative versions which made the Top 40, an unusually high showing for a remix book. The band sued EMI for remixing their fabric with no permission.

Paul Webb rejoined Lee Harris, plus the two went on to shape the group. O. S. A.