PINK FLOYD: The Dark Side Of The Moon (PROGRESSIVE ROCK): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Here we are in front of a monument. One of the best-selling albums in the history of music, with choruses that have been taken up all over the world. And like all successful albums, it was controversial several years after its release. To its detractors, "The dark side of the moon" was a commercial album with a too polished sound, too easy hits and too seductive solos. However, even a superficial examination of the Pink Floyd biography reveals the obvious: there is no machiavellian or mercantile calculation behind this album. The four musicians have simply reached maturity.

Because above all, what made the success of "Dark side Of The Moon" is the osmosis between the members of the band. It is probably the only album offering a real balance between the three composing members : Gilmour, Waters, and Wright (who delivers here two genius songs : "The great gig in the sky" and "Us and them"). Maturity of the band also in the interpretation, perfect balance between the keyboards used, perfect symbiosis between Gilmour's soul and his instrument, perfect mastery by Waters of what he can bring to the bass. In this sense, "Time" is living proof: composed by the four members of the band, Wright offers a sensitive introduction, a screaming solo, and as a bonus a perfect theme cover.

Yes, as we know, "Money" was a hit and gave Pink Floyd the golden boy status that the song decries. And so what? Listen to what Rick Wright says about this album : "We did almost the same thing as for the other albums though...". And Nick Mason adds : "It's strange though (...) you can't say that Dark side was five times better than Meddle (...) it wasn't just a good album, it was an album that came out at the right time". In short, the band reached the most accomplished concept of its career : theme covers, homogeneous sound, sound effects coming back throughout the record... No one will ever know how many albums can claim, like "The dark side of the moon", to have been successful simply because they deserved it.

A perfect concept album, the quintessence of Pink Floyd's art, "Dark side Of The Moon" is a masterpiece on which no real reproach can be made. On the contrary, let's recognize it to its true value all its qualities: originality, virtuosity, magic. Power of sensations on "Great gig in the sky", mystical flights on "Any color you like", grandiose flamboyance on the final "Eclipse" and purely progressive wonder on the mythical "Time". And let the obtuse for whom success is necessarily a crime finally forgive "The dark side of the moon" its immense impact. - Official website

PINK FLOYD

THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

EMI

PROGRESSIVE ROCK