WISH YOU WERE HERE

Pink Floyd finally got around to giving Syd Barrett his farewell tribute even if it was 7 years after he left. Wish You Were Here is probably better than Dark Side of the Moon in my opinion but for those who love DSOTM then it is the best album after that one. This album probably relates to Meddle, Animals and DSOTM well because it has the same amount of musical skill and wonderous solos, basslines, progressions, the works.

Shine on you crazy Diamond is an Epic piece that could have been a side long piece but instead was split in half (part one being the intro and part two being the outro). This was revisited in the follow up, Animals with Pigs on the Wing. This pays off and is an interesting thing to do and allows more space of the vinyls, i pressume. Shine on You crazy Diamond is a prog rock anthem and really shows off the almost impossible task of bettering Dark Side of the Moon. The synth, piano and mellow guitar intro is classic and plays for just the right time so that it doesn't get boring and at the same time provides the ultimate build up to a guitar solo if there ever was one. The solo arrives, and it shakes the foundations of your speakers and your mind, and you sit back and let it flow through your veins and you think "oh my god! this is the best thing i've ever heard". I feel very lucky to be here to appreciate this and so should anyone else. If you're not a fan of prog rock then this will probably change your mind.

The soloage continues and progressess loudly and powerfully into some of gilmour's most powerful and emotional vocals ever which can bring a tear to your eyes. The lyrics, of course, relating to syd "you piper, you prisoner". These lyrics may be seen as a step down as they are not about dark stuff like in DSOTM, animals or the wall but the way they create the perfect tribute to Syd makes up for this, its nice to let the lads have a happier one for a change.

Wish You Were Here also see's a little less psychadelia as the band seem to have been growing out of it since atom heart mother, still these are stoner anthems and trippy but its nice to see the band evolving into more meaningful music and lyrics. The piano, bass, drums are all brilliant as you can expect and fit in well (even if they are a bit toned down from the likes of the 60's stuff). Dick Parry is back to deliver excellent sax pieces on both parts of the album.

And we have now reached "Welcome to the Machine". A really evil piece by the floyd but brilliant none-the-less. The fun and games are over here and the dull vocals, lyrics and droning guitars may get repetitive but it builds up tension and anguish that keeps the song going and is surprisingly one of the stand out tracks on the album. This may be incorparted into the mechanical handshake logo on the album cover. "Have a Cigar" is also a beastly effort and features Roy Harper on vocals. This song is an attack at media in music and how the band are against selling out. The lyrics achieve this perfectly and there is a dark irony in having Roy sing on this track. But hats off to him, he does the job well.

The title track is an odd one but is one of the most beautiful pieces gimour has ever written. It moves slowly yet progresses slyly and features only a few lines of tear embracing lyrics. Very moving and emotional. This song can also be related to syd. Ironicly the band were wishing syd was here at the same time as syd sneaked into to watch them record the album but the boys didnt even recognise him. This album ends where Shine on left of. A masterpiece and probably the most musically propelling piece the floyd have ever done. This has to be the best follow up to a masterpiece ever. and it doesn't stop there. I bet Syd was proud.