THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON

Where to start with this album? Probably one of the best known albums or all time, whether you're a fan of prog or not. Constant plays on the radio have somewhat dumbed the album down, but when you sit down, and take your time to actually LISTEN to it, it becomes one of the most important experiences in a person's life.

A slow, quiet heartbeat starts off the album, with random sounds that make no sense at the time. Money chinging? Clocks ticking? People talking? What could this all MEAN? Suddenly the sonic landscape bursts into flames of colour and emotion with Breathe, the first of the many space rock tunes on the album. "Breathe/Breathe in the air/Don't be afraid to care" coos guitarist David Gilmour as he slides his guitar to and fro in front of Roger Waters's quick hits of bass.

As the song nears it's end, it suddeny takes a complete turn and goes from a soothing, relaxing tune to one of worry and pressure, On the Run. What can be considered an early version of a techno song may very well be one of the greatest uses of early synthesizers ever recorded. The VSC3 hums and murmurs as sounds of quickly walking people whiz by in a cacophny of quickness and urgency.

As if the sonic attack on one's ears through feet and synthesized helicopters were not enough, the song tricks you into thinking it's over, yet comes back in full force with a blitz of clocks all ringing at once! David Gilmour sings about the pressures of life and how we have no time in our lives left to do everything we need until we die. He tops it off with an amazing guitar solo that truly show that Pink Floyd were at the top of their game, and it was just begining. The song reprises Breathe, and it seems to fit in perfectly with the song as it flows to the soaring The Great Gig in the Sky.

Rick Wright's piano starts us off slow with beautiful sounds from his ebony and ivory keys. Sounds of people talking aobut dying start of the song "I am not afraid of dying" claims one. Suddenly, Clare Torry's voice bring the song to atmospheric heights and sooths back down.

The only time the music stops is at this point, due to the two-sidedness of records.

Now the sound of money chinging makes sense. Money starts off with this sound and layered on top of it is a brilliant Roger Waters bass line. David Gilmour once again sings here, saying how money will corrupt you but everyone needs it. Not one but TWO guitar solos mark this track, and Gilmour handles them with blazing mettle.

Of all the Pink Floyd one-two punches, there is none more potent and beautiful than this. Us and Them and Any Colour You Like. Us and them is a brilliant song with some of the best lyrics you'll ever hear in music. "Forward he cried from the rear/And the front rank died/The General sat and the lines on the map/Moved from side to side" sing Gilmour and Wright in beautiful unison. Then it's off the the even more brilliant Any Colour You Like, which showcases each member's individul talents. If you havent heard these tracks before, you must do it. It's more important than you think.

Fnally, we end with the most birlliant ending to a Floyd album, Brain Damage/Eclipse. Roger Waters sings about insanity caused by the pressues mentioned throughout the album, and on Eclipse the album builds and builds and builds and reverts back to that heartbeat, completing the cycle.

Thus ends one of the most brilliant and influential albums of all time. And there were more to come.