MIND GAMES

If I ever heard a band that was very thoroughly Pink Floyd inspired, the Swiss progger's known as Cosmos would be it. Every single nuance is there, from chord changes to textures and guitar solos. It's all spot on, and there were moments that I seriously could have been fooled that this was not a Pink Floyde album. This isn't to say that Cosmos doesn't add any unique elements; there are little bits of jazz and funk sprinkled in that are not so Floydian, as well as some astoundingly beautiful female vocals making appearances. So, how does Mind Games hold up? Compositionally, it's very good, there are never awkward moments, and just about every section counts. The entire album has a bit of a dark and dreary atmosphere to it, which I really dig (see the intro to "Close to the Edge" to see what I mean), and the performances are superbly executed. If you're a fan of Pink Floyd and don't get disturbed by bands mimicking the style, and doing a really good job at it (so good, in fact that you may prefer this over some Floyd albums), then Cosmos is a band for you.