THE ENDLESS RIVER

I recently reviewed Opeth's Pale Communion, and mentioned that it had achieved the unusual feat, for a prog album, of a top 20 chart position in my country. Well, of course, here we have an exceptional band whose (very) prog album has gone to #1 in 20 countries. Will its consumers feel rewarded? I hope so, overall, though reaction in the band's heartland on Prog Archives seems to be mixed. Pink Floyd have been a multifaceted band, and to enjoy this album you specifically need to be appreciative of the lush and drifting psychedelic textures of 'Echoes' or 'Shine On...'. Personally, I LOVE it!! For years, I have felt that an album of instrumental improvisation by Gilmour and Wright would be an absolute dream, and here it has come true. Gilmour's solo 'On An Island' was quite a disappointment to me, filled with short and rather uninteresting attempts at melody. On the other hand, I thought the rich and powerful 'The Division Bell' was a great album - but if 'The Endless River' is really founded on outtakes from that album then I see a missed opportunity. If only they had created longer tracks with this kind of material, TDB could have been incredible. But that's just me. What an enigmatic title for this album, by the way, because its context is just the opposite - the end for a band after the passing away of a wonderful member.

Verdict: heaven.