THE DIVISION BELL

The jubilee of "The Division Bell"! Ten years ago, being a fifteen-year old boy, I bought my first PINK FLOYD, and at the same time the first progressive album, "The Division Bell" (then on a tape). Oh, what a day it was when I listened to it - a new world opened up for me! I loved its every single sound, and have the same strong affection for it up to this day. Of course, later I got acquainted with even better PINK FLOYD works, but nothing can delete from my mind the initial ten-star impression of "The Division Bell". Looking at it now, ten years after, when I know that PINK FLOYD has fully permeated my brain and body and will stay with me for the rest of my life, when it has become to me synonimous with intelligence, emotion and mystery (I also associate these epithets and PINK FLOYD itself with John Fowles, a remarkable English novelist, one of the greatest minds of the literary England in the second part of the twentieth century), I place "The Division Bell" in line with the band's undisputably greatest creations: "The Dark Side of The Moon", "Wish You Were Here", "Animals" and "The Wall". Yes, "The Division Bell" is different. But which of the four mentioned albums of the seventies was not different? Yes, "The Division Bell" was recorded without Roger Waters, but does not the magic of David Gulmour's guitar and the peak of his (Gilmour's) creative power make up for his (Waters') absence? Can you sincerely point to a single weak track in the album? The whole is a beautiful, masterful composition, made in one style, in one mood, in one rich, expressive brushstroke of a true Master! The album has to be listened to as an undivisible piece, but if you make me do such a blasphemy as to tear it apart into tracks and select the best ones, these would be "What do you want from me", "Keep talking", "Lost for words" and "High Hopes" (this is after fighting the intention to include 80% of the tracks in this list!). "High Hopes" above all keeps me in suspension, especially when I make the volume loud and think about the words. I am sure "The Division Bell" will live in the hearts of the true PINK FLOYD fans for many many years to come and won't be forgotten until its hundredth anniversary!