WISH YOU WERE HERE

It's irrelevant to review this album with an aim to give recommendation whether to buy or not to buy this album as this one is really classic and definitely PROG! Shame on you if you browse around this page but you have not got this masterpiece album in your collection. Unless ... you are really really new prog lover, I understand. In this case, don't read this review, just BUY the CD! You will hardly regret this seminal work of PF.

"Shine On You Crazy Diamond - pt. 1" starts with an ambient music in a very slow tempo, demonstrating soft guitar solo 'ala Gilmour. This kind of music is perfect to enjoy while sipping a cup coffee. Really cool intro. The more you spin the CD, your intensity for loving this track will grow tremendously. That's wat I experienced: the first time I listened to this track when the album was released, I could not bear to wait the music really "in" as the intro is too long. Having experienced a nice and long intro, the music flows smoothly by the token of simple guitar fills by Gilmour. What a great shot when all instruments enter to perform a great track; followed by clear vocal line "Rember when you're young....".

I remember that the first time I bought the album dated back 1975, I returned it to the record shop. You know why? It's because of the sound produced at the end of "Shine ...part 1" which look like a recording problem due to wrinkled analog tape. Poor me. In fact, the part is an excellent opening for 2nd track "Welcome to the Machine" which is heavy with keyboard sound production and efects. There are acoustic guitar work though. But it's not exploited as solo guitar. Keyboard is really the king in this track. Acoustic guitar is only used to accentuate the song.

"Have A Cigar" is another great track. It has medium beat and stunning melody and encouraging lyrics such as "the band is just fantastic ..". The other important point of this track is some smart creation by the band on touchy and memorable lyrics as "ANd did we tell you the name of the game, Boy?" ... uuughhhh what a great pitch man! Gilmour guitar work at the interlude is really fascinating, combined with keyboard sound. Again the music stop suddenly with an unpredictable sound that looks like a wrinkled analog tape. In fact, due to this part finally I returned the album to the local store because I thought it was a factory defect.

The title track has a fabulous mixing for acoustic and electric guitar. "So ..so you think you can tell / heaven from hell?" This piece of lyrics has become so popular to my local prog community where we keep telling each other on what album that we're listening to at particular time, thru mobile phone.

I don't think I need to explore the last track "Shine On .. part 2" which is at the same quality as opening track. One think I need to mention is the sound of wind at desert reminds me the cover of CAMEL "Rajaz". Overall, I appreciate this album very highly as it has a very strong composition, excellent melody and great musicianship. Last but VERY IMPORTANT is the band creation of sound effects - it's AMAZING! Luckily .. we have the new generation of sound engineering. Who is he? Steven Wilson of PORCUPINE TREE! He's a great producer. - Rating 5/5. Gatot Widayanto, Indonesia.