WET DREAM

I can't believe to have missed reviewing this album until now. It's the second Floyd solo that I have purchased and probably the one that I like most. In 1978 Roger Waters' ego was reaching his top. The band was working on Animals and there was probably too few space for other band members' creativity. In particular Pink's Song is prophetic of what was about to happen "I must go here on my way, Let me go I cannot stay..."

From a musical point of view this can be considered the missed Pink Floyd album, more than Gilmour's debut, this is full of the Floyd spirit before Dark Side of the Moon and features the bluesman Snowy White at guitar, the guy who played Gilmour on the stage of The Wall.

"Mediterranean C" is not a great opener. It's a good instrumental and is functional to introduce the main concept about escaping from the normal life that is better exploited in "Holiday". What's wrong is the keyboard sound chosen for this song that is a bit too flat

"Against The Odds" is a great song, instead. The classical guitar of Snowy white is the distinctive element of the song and the final solo is simple but extremely effective. This is my personal favourite.

"Cat Cruise" is an instrumental with the Wright's trademark. It reminds to his work on Obscured by Clouds with a bit of the piano thrill of The Great Gig in The Sky. Everything completed by Mel Collins' sax.

The melodic piano intro, still in the style of Great Gig but with a touch of country is another great "pop" song on which Rick's voice fits very well. "Summer Elegy" is just a bit too pop, but the Snowy White's Gibson creates a fantastric solo without being too Gilmourian.

The side A is closed by "Waves". A repetitive melody based on minor chords, reminder in some ways of Bridges Burning, with a jazzy solo by Mel Collins. Probably the darkest moment of the album.

"Holyday" is the top track. I have always found amazing the initial passages from F- , Gb , Gb- B. The piano sounds like on the Great Gig and the chorus "Sail Alone across the sea..." speaks of winds, waves and freedom. One of the best songs ever written by Wright.

"Mad Yannis Dance" is like the Dervish Dance. It gives me the impression of a circular movement, but it's not compulsive like the Dervish. It's slow and dark instead.This instrumental gives Mel Collins the opportunity of another good sax solo.

"Drop In From The Top" is a strange thing: It's the kind of bluesy instrumental track of which David Gilmour's debut is full. Of course Snowy White places a fantastic riff on it.

I have already mentione "Pink's Song". It's slow and sad. If I'm not wrong on the vinyl cover Linda Wright is credited for the lyrics. Here Mel plays a flute solo.

The album is closed by "Funky Deux". An instrumental driven by a very rhythmic bass line. A good closer but maybe a little misplaced on this album, I mean "out of the concept". There's not a true concept, effectively. The songs on this album share just some "feelings" and Funky Deux is different at this level. The only "cold" track on a very warm album. However there's room for another great sax performance.

4 stars for PA standards, 5 for my heart.