ABOUT FACE

A thoughtful album which reveals the heavier component of Pink Floyd released shortly after Roger Waters and Dave Gilmour decided that their artistic differences were hopelessly irreconcilable. One song on the album definitely reflects Gilmour's sentiments on this issue in the form of You Know I'm Right. It could be literally interpreted as boy/girl bickering but even Gilmour himself admits the piece was directed towards Waters. Moving on toward the future Pete Towshend of the Who is invited to contribute some lyrics on Love On The Air and All Lovers Are Deranged. Gilmour effectively transforms Townshend's thoughts into a couple of great melodic arrangements. On other tracks such as Cruise and Murder Gilmour voices his personal attitudes towards nuclear weapons being based in his home country of England as well as the irrational mindset of one who commits murder with a possible reference to the murder of John Lennon in 1980. Throughout the work Gilmour utilizes different instrumentation approaches. On the recommendation of producer Bob Ezrin a horn section is heard on Blue Light while a full orchestration can be heard on Let's Get Metaphysical. The fretless bass is an ubiquitous ingredient on all tracks with the exception of Until We Sleep where it is interestingly replaced by a Fairlight synthesizer. The employment of the fretless bass in the expert hands of Pino Palladino adds an overall captivating feeling and depth and connects the work, (Gilmour himself played the bass parts on the demos). When this album came out in 1984 it was refreshing to see a more upbeat and fluid Gilmour working outside of the confines and restrictions of Pink Floyd. Guest appearances are made by Steve Winwood, Jon Lord as well as The National Philharmonic Orchestra.