THE FINAL CUT

Coming off The Wall, whether it be the third disc or not, Pink Floyd hade to be struggling with the expectations on their new album. It can't have been easy, matching those expectations that had to been there. So, how does it fare? And have the teeth of Time been kind? Though released in the early 80's the sound is still very organic and similar to The Wall or Animals. One might have expected alot more synthesizers and electronic instruments but no, there aren't. As with The Wall the soundscape is very bleak, dark and full of angst. Revolving round themes of war, loss, personal tragedy and the shattering of the glorious future it is not a very uplifting album. Still, I would not call it depressing either. Not by a long shot. Great Britain awoke to a different world in the years after 1945. The dismantling off the Empire and the economic pressures of the 70's, the downfall of industry and Thatcher made the ground shiver. This was not what we saw coming in 1945. The promise of a new world came true, but not in the sense it was meant. This and the loss of his father came to be the theme of The final cut. In some ways a Waters solo album, it proved to be the last of the classic Floyd records. I think the album, in many ways, been treated unfairly and I can see why. It took me a long time getting it straight. I found it both too bleak, dark and similar in tone throughout, lacking the inspiration of any Floyd album of the 70's. I was wrong. I see the light and it shines brightly. Not only am I a lover of all British. I cannot get enough of the Great Britain of the 1900's (and before). So, the fact that the album revolves around a critical time of the nation and the eventual outcome, yet sense of worth, fills me with a certain joyous feeling. Waters and the band manages to put in music the turmoil and emotions of the post war dream, as one track also aptly is titled. I think that The final cut is a very worthy album, full of great, reflective music. Though it may have been intended for The Wall it stands on it's own in every respect. It is a fabolous work, equal to most of the classic albums of the 70's. It's hard to pick out tracks, since the album is constructed in a long motion, where each track folds into another quite seamless. However, I do love "When the tigers broke free" with it's hymn-like sound and Waters wailing vocals. Very emotional indeed. Other tracks that do stand out are "Possible pasts" and "The post war dream": I do, however, recommend you to listen to the album as a whole. It is a splendid, musical display.