From the outset I'll put my hand up and admit I'm a Pink Floyd tragic and excited to be able to listen and pass judgment on what is undoubtedly the last hurrah from Floyd.
Mind you, The Endless River has already attained the No1 position on New Zealand's album chart so I must have plenty of company in the Floyd tragic department.
The Endless River is an unusual Floyd album, essentially the brainchild of David Gilmour. Much of the material dates back 20 years to the sessions that resulted in their last album, The Division Bell. This means that we get to hear Richard Wright contributing, plus drummer Nick Mason, Gilmour and other musicians. It's also unusual in that Gilmour has created an almost classical approach, with a series of sometimes connected instrumental stanzas, possibly the best way he could find to utilise snatches of Wright's piano pieces.
Special mention too to the variety of drumming approaches from Mason, from delicate to powerhouse. Gilmour's guitar work is sublime and again demonstrates subtlety through to wildly aggressive playing.
Stephen Hawking provides an interesting monologue or electronic voice sample on one track, and The Endless River peaks with the only full-on vocal track written by Gilmour and his wife, Polly Samson. Louder Than Words is a perfect way to finish Floyd's recording career. Listen closely for the major contribution throughout by keyboardist Richard Wright, showing his skills on piano, Fender Rhodes and synthesisers, spookily six years after he died.
