A MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON

Things sure got complicated after "The Wall" was released. A court case ensued and the band would be forever changed.The previous record "The Final Cut" was much like Waters' solo record. Well this album really comes off sounding like a Gilmour solo album.Touche ! I'm sure that's what Gilmour was thinking. Anyway this was recorded in 1987 which in my opinion was the worst year in Prog music history. Richard Wright would be here only as a part timer, along with a host of guest musicians. I often wondered if the title of this album was directed at Mr.Waters. Wouldn't be surprised. Anyway the pictures of Gilmour and Mason with them both smiling away in the liner notes looks so eighties and wrong.

I don't want to harp on the Roger Waters conflict but I always thought "Signs Of Life" was a strange pick for the opening song, but the fact it's a song with no lyrics may have some significance. Anyway it consists of samples of birds singing and water splashing, everything is peaceful. Synths and some guitar late in the song. "Learning To Fly" is a song that impresses me more for the lyrics then the melody. Hearing a pilot singing about flying is pretty cool. Too poppy though for my tastes. "The Dogs Of War" opens with a melody that sounds like marching armies, and the vocals are aggressive sounding because of the subject matter. "One Slip" may have an eighties feel to it but I like it. It has a spacey intro that gives way to an uptempo melody with lots of percussion.

"On The Turning Away" features amazing lyrics and a great guitar solo 3 1/2 minutes in. Talk about a meaningful song ! "Yet Another Movie" and it's instrumental partner "Round And Around" are slow paced with drums pounding and keys in the background. The guitar outbreak is good. "A New Machine Part 1" and "Part 2" features distorted vocals and subtle keys.The instrumental "Terminal Frost" has a lazy, relaxed melody of sax, keys and slowly pounding drums that develope into a fuller sound after 2 minutes, and an even fuller sound after 3 minutes. The final tune "Sorrow" has some distorted guitar in the intro and the guitar melodies are good especially later on in the song.

I saw them on tour in support of this record in Toronto where they sold out the CNE for three straight nights. I saw the second show. The first half which featured a lot of material from this album holds some good memories because of the videos up on the big screen more than the music itself. The German Shepherd dogs and the guy in the bed being chased were all so cool,The second half was marred by some sound problems during my favourite song "Us And Them".