THE DIVISION BELL

"The Division Bell" is the fourteenth studio album of Pink Floyd and was released in 1994. It was released seven years after "A Momentary Lapse Of Reason". "The Division Bell" is a kind of a conceptual album where large part of the album deals with issues of communication or the lack of it. The global idea is that many of life's problems can be solved through dialogue. Songs like "Poles Apart" and "Lost For Words" are sometimes interpreted as referring to the problems of communication between the ex-member Roger Waters and the other members of the group. However, Gilmour denied that the album is an allegory about the separation of the group and Nick Masson said that the message on the album does have some meaning because it's about people making choices, saying yes or no, during their lives.

The general theme of communication is reflected in the title of the album. It was inspired by "The Division Bell" used in the United Kingdom Parliament. It's a resource used in the United Kingdom Parliament when voting a motion, opinions are divided and it becomes necessary to call MP's to vote, indicating that a vote is to take place. The recording of the album took place in several locations, including the band's Britannia Row Studios and Gilmour's houseboat Astoria.

The line up on the album is David Gilmour (lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, keyboards and programming), Richard Wright (vocals and keyboards) and Nick Mason (drums and percussion). The açbum had also the participation of the guest musicians Jon Carin (keyboards), Bob Ezrin (keyboards and percussion), Dick Parry (tenor saxophone), Guy Pratt (bass), Tim Renwick (guitars), Gary Wallis (acoustic and electronic percussion) and the backing vocals of Sam Brown, Carol Kanyon, Rebecca Leigh-White, Durga McBroom and Jackie Sheridan.

"The Division Bell" has eleven tracks. The first track "Cluster One" is a peaceful and quiet ambivalent music, which then segues into 3 songs of Gilmour's guitar stealing the show, leading the music with an almost effulgent quality. The second track "What Do You Want From Me" is a hard song with strong tempo, heavy guitar but with very melodious vocals. Gilmour's sudden vocal key change transforms the track beautifully. This is a strong number, maybe a bit commercial, that sets the stage for the melancholic songs that are to follow. The third track "Poles Apart" fades in with a quality and moody acoustic phrase and never loses its charm which brings Pink Floyd right back to the early 70's. Gilmour's vocals are bright and inspiring maintaining the nostalgic and slightly melancholy mood of the song. The fourth track "Marooned" is a great composition with an excellent composition and sustained time signatures that can only be filled up with a patient guitar player like Gilmour. It explores Gilmour guitar virtuosity, augmented by a great piano touch. The fifth track "A Great Day For Freedom" has a duality of moods with the piano being melancholic while the melody and lyrics are more optimistic and hopeful. Gilmour provides an impressive lead during the song. The sixth track "Wearing The Inside Out" is may be Gilmour's most impressive musical performance, between the melodic vocals and various guitar textures. Wright performs lead vocals here. The saxophone solo right at the jump by Dick Parry sets a great mood. The seventh track "Take It Back" is another strong track with more great guitar work from Gilmour, and some precise drumming from Mason. It's probably a bit more commercial and poppy but it still is a very good song. The eighth track "Coming Back To Life" starts with a gentle bluesy guitar intro and is overall a good listen. However, Gilmour seems to have the habit of projecting his own guilt back at the audience and the lyrics on this song illustrate that fact. The ninth track "Keep Talking" has a masterful arrangement starting with the vocal interludes by Stephen Hawking to the extensive use of a "talk box" and the call and response of the verses between Gilmour and the female chorus. The tenth track "Lost For Words" fades in masterfully with a deep organ before it finally gets to the folkish, acoustic heart of the song, completed with slight accordion and honky piano and a fine acoustic lead in the outro of the song. The eleventh track "High Hopes" starts with joyous bells in the distance of a rural scene, the lyrics speak of the things one may have gained and lost in life. Fittingly, the song concludes with a fine, bluesy guitar lead by Gilmour.

Conclusion: "The Division Bell" is a great album. It's the best album released by Pink Floyd since "The Wall". It's an album without a weak track. However, it isn't an easy listening at the first time. It demands a number of listenings to can fully appreciate it properly. "The Division Bell" is, for me, the sixth best studio album released by the group, after "Meddle", "Dark Side Of The Moon", "Which You Were Here", "Animals" and "The Wall". However, it doesn't represent, for me, a masterpiece. It's true that it's almost a perfect album but I sincerely think it lacks to it something to can have that status. In reality, I feel it lacks to it the creativity and the irreverence of Roger Waters. Nevertheless, "The Division Bell" is a great way to end the musical career of one of the greatest progressive bands that already existed in the world.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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