Pink Floyd - "The Division Bell" (Columbia CK 64200, 1994, CD)
After eight long years, Floyd have come forward with
another fine collection of songs, with no real surprises - their timeless
style intact - this could just as easily been the follow-up to Wish You
Were Here. The band has a renewed energy on this outing, having long since
proven to themselves they can do without former bassist/vocalist/iron-hand
bandleader Roger Waters (good riddance). The sound seems to have returned to a more playful
pre-Wall feel, more musical, without all the gloom and doom
depressionistic lyrics that marred that album and The Final Cut - you
won't want to go commit suicide after listening The Division Bell, it's a
far more positive experience, and a big step forward from the overly
self-conscious 1987 album as well, I think the band has done well by not
trying to emulate Waters' presence, and instead allowed themselves the space
to show their true colors; even Rick Wright is active again co-writing most
of the music with Gilmour, and penned one tune himself. The band wisely
brought in guests to help out with much of the lyrics, which adds to the
album's overall variety. My only complaint here is the seemingly excessive
use of backup singers, which gives all of the more radio-ready tracks a more
soulful and overtly commercial feel - a crutch that Floyd doesn't really
need to lean on, and one that certainly doesn't enhance their sound. That
said, this is a fine album that I'm sure most would enjoy.
(Originally published in Exposé #3, p.10, Edited for Gnosis 3/26/01)
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