Pink Floyd - The Endless River

Pink Floyd

The Endless River

7 November 2014

Parlophone/Columbia

 

2 stars out of 5

 

 

There are two main warning bells that should go off for Pink Floyd fans when approaching The Endless River, their first studio album in twenty years and their third since the departure of Roger Waters. First, that this is comprised mainly of leftovers from their previous studio LP, The Division Bell. That alone should cause a lot of people to steer well clear. Second, that this is an almost entirely instrumental record. Along with the apocalyptic tone long associated with Pink Floyd, a big part of the band’s appeal through much of their career was their lyrics, so the lack of lyrics on seventeen of the album’s eighteen tracks isn’t a strong selling point. Described as the “swan song” of late keyboardist Richard Wright, The Endless River was recorded by the final two surviving Pink Floyd members, David Gilmour and Nick Mason, along with parts that Wright had recorded with the band between 1968 and 1993.

 

If you’ve always dreamed of a Pink Floyd album that doesn’t satisfy any of your needs as a fan, look no further. Tired of being stimulated by the band’s experimental spirit and innovative songwriting? Well, rest your weary head, brave one, for there are no exhausting experimental or innovative qualities here. Sick to death of clever lyrics and biting social commentary? Both are refreshingly absent from The Endless River. Have you been desperately hoping the whole time that the band would give up any aspirations to making decent rock music and instead attempt to sell you a dull and mostly pointless new age abomination? You’ve just hit the jackpot, son!

 

reviewed by Richard Krueger