A MOMENTARY LAPSE OF REASON

In recent issue of MOJO (April 2006) the Roxy Music guitarist, Phil Manzanera - who is David Gilmour's neighbor in Sussex - categorized "A Momentary Lapse of Reason" album under the last era (out of three) of Pink Floyd where he named the category under "After The War" (with Roger, obviously). Looking at the CD sleeve this album looks like a collaborative efforts by David Gilmour and Nick Mason; Bob Ezrin is the producer. This can be considered as David's expression to the "war", saying to the public that "Pink Floyd is alive without Roger Waters".

When I purchased my first version of this album in cassette format, this album did not attract me at first spin except one track "Sorrow" which has great flow and a bit of bluesy rhythm. I could afford to listen to more than two spins, I think, and I put it in my cassette rack. I'd rather play Marillion "Misplaced Childhood" or "Clutching AT Straws" cassettes which at the time became my day-to-day menu. Yes, I was more Marillionized than being Floyded. A Momentary was to me far more inferior than any Marillion's albums at the time. I only listened to this album seriously again after I purchased the laser disc of Pink Floyd live concert video "Delicate Sound of Thunder". Watching the video reminded me to this album and I played that again. Couple of years later I upgraded into CD format.

The opening title "Signs Of Life" with its ambient sound of waters remind me to the picture of man rowing about on a silent river (segment in the Delicate Sound of Thunder video) and gives me a sense of peaceful life. There are of course still many elements of early Pink Floyd sounds on guitar, keyboard as well as sound effects. Some tracks like "Turning Away" is too poppy being considered as Floyd track. "Dogs of War" is another good thread of this album. The best track is of course "Sorrow"! If you are Pink Floyd freaks and get used to early albums you might find this album lost the soul of Pink Floyd sound in the early days. Keep on proggin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW