OBSCURED BY CLOUDS

Another decent but soundtrack release from Pink Floyd, this first post-Meddle album was recorded at around the same time as the group were putting together The Dark Side of the Moon, and I did get the feeling listening to it that the boys were holding back their best ideas for the "proper" album. Gilmour lays down a few decent solos, the rhythms are atmospheric, the keyboards are decently performed, but few songs really stand out. Still, it's a perfectly pleasant album and I think I prefer it to More - and the idea of a gentler, more folky and acoustic side to Pink Floyd in their imperial era is a nice one which I am glad they explored to this extent (and kind of wish they'd taken further). Four stars.