OBSCURED BY CLOUDS

This is the tragically under-appreciated PF stoner classic. I realize the Floyd bristle at being labeled a drug band and I don't mean to imply that they are. But the bands feelings aside I grew up with people in a time where Floyd were the band of choice for people lighting up and this album was a definite favorite. It's extremely pleasant music that is easy to digest and features many wonderful moments. Reacquainting with it for this review I am reminded how special it is. Obscured is the last album of the pre-Dark Side era before they would explode into the upper stratosphere of rock stardom and release their most acclaimed Waters classics. It's an album thrown together rather fast and sounds much more like a group effort than they would down the road a bit. But regardless of how little they toiled over this baby it turned out to be a very special one in the hearts of many of the Floyd fans in my life.

The title track is an ominous sounding instrumental. Gilmour grabs the reigns very quickly and never looks back-this album is much more David than it is Roger and it's very melodic. Dave kicks out some very nice slide work here. "when you're in" is a fairly conventional rocker with good drum work but otherwise not too noteworthy. "burning bridges" is a Floyd classic that is SO perfect. It's all about the vibe with this one, Dave's sublime vocals and the harmonies along with beautiful guitar work. "the gold it's in the.." is another real rocker that Dave just belts out, one of the rare times you'll hear this band play like a garage band. "wot's uh the deal" is the second stunner after "burning bridges." Dave plays acoustic and sings so beautifully and Richard embellishes with gorgeous piano. It's difficult to describe but the vibe here is of lost youth and melancholic nostalgia. "mudmen" is the third total classic on OBC. Slow, dreamy, with lush keys and spine tingling acid guitar. Captivating stuff. I agree that "childhood's end" does sound like a demo from DSOTM, it has a bit of the future Floyd feel to it. More great guitar and organ. "free four" is Roger's only vocal if I'm not mistaken and ironically it's the lamest track on the album. It's a catchy little pop number but completely out of feel with the THC mood of this material. "stay" is the fourth magical track in my eyes with Richard's delightfully underused vocal talent, lovely keyboard chords, and more of Dave's rich guitar. "absolutely curtains" is the fifth great song on OBC, a spacey instrumental that will remind you of 70s Oldfield or something similar and represents a last nod to their psychedelic past. It closes with the rhythmic chanting of the tribespeople from the film and it fits the album perfectly.

If you love dreamy, trippy, melodic Floyd don't miss this easy to love gem. The booklet for the remastered CD contains lyrics and gorgeous stills from the film La Vallee.

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