A MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON

I remember seeing this with great surprise in a record shop in 1987, and thinking it must be some kind of compilation, because I thought that "The Final Cut" was meant to be their last album by virtue of the title. When I picked it up and looked at the track listing I thought I don't recognise any of these??

The cover fools you into a sense of well-being because it truly was a full-on great Pink Floyd album cover - and that's the best bit, because when you open it out you find these horrible cheezy 80's pop star images of Gilmour and Mason. Why Mason is there I don't know because he hardly played on the album.

But it is amazing how they did made-up all those beds - 10/10 to Storm Thorgerson!!

Anyway - now to the music, and to stop the insults. The music is actually very good in places - mostly from the great guitar work/ solos from Gilmour - but without that it wouldn't really be any good. Note the word 'solo' - it really is a Gilmour solo album, and if it was entitled that you would be happier as wouldn't be expecting 'Dark Side of the Moon' again. Although you can tell Gilmour tried really hard, and in the midst of the time trying to sound like PF but also to advance it into the 1980's was ever so difficult - so well done for trying, and as Waters recently said it least it kept the name alive - if only commercially.

It starts really well with Signs of Life - a little 'Shine on' sounding and you think it's going to follow in the footsteps of 'Wish You Were Here' - and I really like that track. Then 'Learning to Fly' seems to start well, then progresses into this yucky 80's beat, and the album loses itself for 2 or 3 tracks, and really isn't that great until "Yet another movie" which does have a great solo in it. After that it's not too bad, although much of the music is too soft and slow. The lyrics are a little embarrasing in places as well. Don't get me wrong - I do like the album, I just don't think it's that great that's all.

There is redemption at the finish/ climax with the truly great track "Sorrow". The album is worth buying just for that (even though even this track is plagued by a horrible 80's beat, the awesome guitar work from Gilmour redeems it). Thank you David for trying at least - better was to follow with the much-improved "The Division Bell" in which the horrible 80's cod funk had been removed.

"Sorrow" brings the album up to an overall good album - that and "Signs of Life" and "On the Turning Away" and "Yet Another Movie" (the rest is too 80's to bother listening to). Buy all the other PF albums first, then get this for interest at the end.

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