WISH YOU WERE HERE

I've always had this inner debate regarding Pink Floyd: I can't decide which of their albums is the most essential. Dark Side Of The Moon might very well be the most common choice throughout Floyd fans, but to me, this album's got something special (besides of being a masterpiece album released after a masterpiece album). Maybe it's the use of excellent technology (at that time), the great amount of feeling regarding both music and concept, the cynic view of the music industry, etc...

This album is a tribute to former Floyd member Syd Barrett, and what a tribute this is ! Here goes a brief musical description:

Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Part I) : this song starts with synthetizer, hammond organ and some discarded sounds from unfinished work Household Objects, followed by a moving minimoog provided by Richard WRIGHT. Then David GILMOUR plays a clean-reverb guitar solo. After a while (and a light fadeout) we listen a four-note theme (known as Syd's theme) and we hear the start of Nick MASON 's drumming, another GILMOUR solo and then Wright's excellent minimoog melodies. A third solo from Gilmour will lead us to the vocals in this song, performed mainly by Roger WATERS, with some backing vocals. After the singing, Dick PARRY starts playing his sax solos, and after a while the song fades out and links to the next one.

Welcome To The Machine: stars with some synths sounds that serve as the rhythm of the song, since there is no actual drumming in it. Vocals again by WATERS. WRIGHT 's synth takes a prominent role in this song. After all of the electric soloing in this song, music fades out and we can listen to some samples that will lead to the next song.

Have A Cigar: starts whit a nice theme in guitar that is the base of the whole song, also we can listen a melody theme in synth that will be played between some verses and back to back with the guitar solos in the end of the song. Excellent vocals by guest Roy HARPER. Some good solos from GILMOUR, then more sound samples that will lead to the next song.

Wish You Were Here: some radio-like samples lead to an acoustic guitar theme, that later on will lead to GILMOUR warm vocals. After some verses, drums, piano and bass get in the song. Some GILMOUR guitar solos backed by a falsetto voice that gives a nice sound to it. After this moving song we listen some sound effects that will lead us to the second part of Shine On You Crazy Diamond.

Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Part II): after some sound effects, a bass pattern is played, followed by a synth solo by WRIGHT, some guitar chords now and then as the music gets more intense and a lap steel guitar solo will be added to the song. After all this intense music, we hear vocals again. After that some nice music with two bass guitars, with a disco-like guitar, and nice synth sound underneath; after a while this section fades out and we listen a more mellow part, lead by a moving minimoog melody that eventually would lead to the end of the song in which a portion of the melody of See Emily Play can be heard.

And so ends this awesome album. Both a tribute to Syd Barrett and a critic to music industry. A modern music achievement and a must have for anyone that likes good music.

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