Talbot was Classic FM'S inaugural Composer in Residence during 2004, resulting in the album Once Around the Sun. Tracks from this in turn became part of Talbot's score for choreographer Wayne McGregor's 2005 work for The Royal Ballet, Chroma. The remainder of the score was made up of an earlier original work, Hovercraft, and tracks from Talbot's 2005 instrumental covers album of songs by The White Stripes, entitled Aluminium, a project conceived and executed in partnership with XL Recordings founder Richard Russell, and Talbot's long-time collaborator, the conductor and orchestrator Christopher Austin.