While rightly regarded as a peak of prog rock invention, 1973′s The Dark Side Of The Moon captured Pink Floyd’s abiding themes perfectly. It launched the group into superstar territory. It also owed a little something to the Stones’ Exile On Main St. (soulful backing vocals) and Bowies …Ziggy Stardust… (wrapping loosely related material into a concept). The result was a record that defined the decade, that became more famous than the band themselves, and an enduring rock classic that still sounds as crisp and relevant as it did 40 years ago. Waters would never again write so elegantly about madness and alienation, while the band, now with Gilmour vocally to the fore, were never more balanced. And with no dud in sight, audiophile-friendly production and a rousing, meaningful finale, Dark Side more than justifies its reputation. The album is particularly notable for the metronomic sound effects during Speak to Me, and the tape loops that open Money. Drummer Nick Mason created a rough version of Speak to Me at his home, before completing it in the studio. The track serves as an overture and contains cross-fades of elements from other pieces on the album. A piano chord, replayed backwards, serves to augment the build-up of effects, which are immediately followed by the opening of Breathe. Mason received a rare solo composing credit for Speak to Me. The rumors that The Dark Side was written as a soundtrack for the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Observers playing the film and the album simultaneously have reported apparent synchronization, such as Dorothy beginning to jog at the lyric no one told you when to run during Time, and Dorothy balancing on a tight-rope fence during the line balanced on the biggest wave in Breathe. David Gilmour and Nick Mason have both denied a connection between the two works, and Roger Waters has described the rumors as amusing.
Posted on: Thu, 10 Jul 2014 17:00:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015