THE ENDLESS RIVER

I have to admit that the announcement by David Gilmour and Nick Mason (the last two remaining Pink Floyd members) that a new Pink Floyd album would be released and that it would consist of leftover material recorded with keyboardist Richard Wright (who passed away in 2008) had me somewhat worried.

The last Pink Floyd studio album was The Division Bell, released over 20 years ago in 1994. Now they were trying to make a new release by adding newly recorded bits with outtakes from 20 years ago, trying to include Wright posthumously and there would be no involvement from founding member Roger Water, who was the band's chief creative force during its 1970s heyday.

Personally, I liked The Division Bell (which I realize is not a view shared by all fans of the Floyd) and felt it was an excellent album to cap off the band. For me, many signs coming from this new album pointed to "no good could come of this."

So how did the album turn out? About as well as one could reasonably expect, I suppose.

The Endless River consists of all instrumental tracks, save "Louder Than Words", which features vocals by Gilmour. The result is an album that sounds like post-Waters Floyd or a Gilmour solo album trying to harken back to the days before The Wall - all with a 21st century sheen given to the production.

Whether this appeals to you or not depends whether you like fifty minutes of ethereal-sounding guitar and keyboard exploration. There is no irony in one of the tracks being called "On Noodle Street, they are explicitly telling you what to expect.

I will say that I found the first couple tracks meander a bit too much to hold my interest. I had a similar problem with the two previous post-Waters Floyd albums. However, the energy does seem to pick up a bit in the middle section.

I do like a few of the nostalgic touches, such as the Stephen Hawking vocals on "Talkin' Hawkin'" and the bells from "High Hopes" ringing just before this album's final track, "Louder Than Words". Gilmour's vocals still sound pristine, by the way. The man has a golden throat.

"Louder Than Words", being the only track with vocals is almost a standout by default, but I truly do think that it is one of the best and most memorable tracks on the album. A lot of than it probably down to Gilmour's vocals and the ladies on backing vocals, but it is a catchy number with a great guitar lead.

Overall, The Endless River is not so much a final Pink Floyd album as it is a nostalgic collection of previously recorded material spruced up for release in 2014. However, it is by no means bad. Given that we're more than likely never going to have another Pink Floyd studio album ever again and this is likely the closest we'll ever get, I'll happily take it.

Highlights: "Sum", "Allons-y (1)", "Talkin' Hawkin'", "Surfacing", "Louder Than Words"