A MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON

In the eighties Pink Floyd released two solo-albums. The first was The final cut which was a Roger Waters solo album, the second was A momentary lapse of reason which was a David Gilmour solo album. Waters is surely missed on this album but that doesn't mean this is a bad album, A momentary. sounds much more like a Pink Floyd Album but it isn't Pink Floyd. At this time Richard Wright wasn't even a member, played only little of the keyboard parts and did not contribute to the songwriting or lead vocals which is a pity because his influence too is surely missed. Nick Mason played the drums on some of the tracks but didn't contribute to the music either. Instead of using the skills of Mason and Wright, Gilmour invited extremely talented session musicians like John Carin, Patrick Leonard or Phil Manzanera. The result is an album which isn't a masterpiece but isn't bad either. Signs of life sounds too much like the opening part of shine on you.., there is too much sound without a song. Learning to fly is the best track of the album and shows the band has found it's keyboard driven sound again and adapt it to the eighties. The dogs of war tries to recapture the bluesy rock of money but fails. This piece of crap is one of the most horrible songs the band's ever done, today it sounds outdated with its eighties sounding keys. One slip is one of the finer moments of the album, a song with a good chorus. No wonder Phil Manzanera was the co-writer of this song, it has the roxy music touch. On the turning away is a typical David Gilmour ballad, if you like this, you should check Gilmour's second solo album out. The great guitar solo saves it from being too mellow. Next track is one of the highlights of A momentary. Yet another movie has great mysterious moods. Listening to it is like being like in a dream maybe this is where they got the idea for the great cover art. David Gilmour plays his guitar as a god, the keyboard and drum parts are marvellous. On this track you'll notice the power of a good production, Bob Ezrin did a good job. A new machine keeps the mystery feel but it's hardly a song. Not a track to be played much. Terminal frost is better but maybe it sounds too easy for a progressive rock album : a nice atmosphere and great musicianship, but again not much of a songline. This one too is saved by the big production of Bob. They told me Sorrow is a track David Gimour wrote on his own one dark evening, Gilmour couldn't pick up a better name for this one. The band is known for his great ending tracks but this time they let me down. I keep searching for the point in this. Like most of the tracks of a momentary.there's a nice structure and great guitar work but to me this just ain't good enough. To my humble opinion this album has too less highlights for a Pink Floyd album.