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List Price: $42.98 | | Label: Sony Japan
Salesrank: 529962
Released: June 19, 2002 |
| Our Price: $136.00 |
| Used Price: $44.99 |
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| Media: Audio CD |
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A Momentary Lapse of Reason Track Listing:
1. Signs of Life [Instrumental]
2. Learning to Fly
3. Dogs of War
4. One Slip
5. On the Turning Away
6. Yet Another Movie/Round and Around
7. New Machine, Pt. 1
8. Terminal Frost
9. New Machine, Pt. 2
10. Sorrow
A Momentary Lapse of Reason Reviews:
Pink Floyd's "Phoenix" 
2006-02-02 - I really didn't know what to expect when I bought this (on vinyl, in 1987), I saw the video of "Learning To Fly," and even though it was a good song, and it was well played, it was so cluttered looking and sounding, as I have been a hard-core fan of this band for many, MANY years, I was used to the four-piece band. Yes, "The Wall" had many extra people involved, but that was all a part of the concept of alienation, as well as the first overt signs that there was trouble in paradise. But, understanding that Water's grim song cycles and near total control of the band in the late 1970's and early 1980's, sort of soured the other band members' attitudes toward the band, this was a breath of fresh air. So, with a little trepidation, I went to Hills (the store that eventually became Ames), and bought my own copy.
"Signs Of Life" set a mood of anticipation, and looking at the really beautiful packaging, I felt I had made a wise purchase. I felt a little cheated, though, because the so-called "band photo" consisted only of David Gilmour and Nick Mason, standing back-to-back, in what looked like Preppy clothes, smiling at the camera, looking more like business partners, not band mates. And knowing that Mason was, at the time only a figurehead, long out of practice, most of the drum tracks were played, in fact, by Carmine Appice and Jim Keltner, sort of put me in another place. And with Rick Wright listed in small print as a session player instead of a band member, a saxophone player and two drummers, as well as a rhythm guitarist and various back-up singers all listed, there's a side of me that says "This is not Pink Floyd at all!" And with Tony Levin of King Crimson on bass, good a musician as he is (I love King Crimson, by the way), I just thought I wouldn't like this at all. "Learning To Fly" followed, and since I had already heard that song, I just kind of sat through it. "Dogs Of War" had some cheezy lyrics, I wasn't sold yet, so when "One Slip" came on, I thought "This is King Crimson, featuring David Gilmour;" that kind of bass playing has never been part of Floyd's sound, but "On The Turning Away" came on, and reassured me, I had made a wise purchase. So powerful sounding. Beautiful production, and a guitar solo in the same league as "Comfortably Numb."
I flipped the record over (this was the '80's, mind you), and "Yet Another Movie" leapt out of my stereo with that MASSIVE sound, all the ornate arrangements and sound effects in the mix, I thought "OK, Gilmour has just sold me; this is a fantastic comeback!" At first, I didn't know "Round And Around" was a coda to "Movie," but it is a really good outro, the mind's eye watching this behemoth lumber off into the horizon, setting the listener up for "A New Machine, part one." A little brief, and not what I, as a Floyd fan, am used to in a Floyd record, but I enjoyed the oscillation of Gilmour's voice, and the way the piece sets the mood for "Terminal Frost." As the first reviewer said, the arrangement, and overall sound, are chill-inducing. A mood piece, it's an instrumental that would probably be ruined with words. It's just fine as it is. So, along comes part two of "A New Machine, bookending "Frost," so you are now all set for the closer, "Sorrow." This sounds like the old days, moderately slow, mechanical rhythm, and it just flows from the speakers to fill the room with power, and trademark Gilmour solos throughout. Come the fade-out, and there you have it. Pink Floyd, but not really Pink Floyd, playing a Pink Floyd record to a skeptical audience, myself included, and Waters' comments notwithstanding, this is an exceptionally good record, especially when you consider the time it came out, when most popular music was just a shell of it's former self, and with Waters' departure, the had band lost a phenominally talented lyricist and conceptualist. I didn't think they'd be able to do it, but, as I said, one listen, and I don't regret buying it. And I don't think most other people will, either.
More than just signs of life... 
2005-11-01 - It starts off oh so mysterious and withheld. A laidback guitar leads us through the instrumental Signs Of Life and into Learning To Fly.
David Gilmour then sings the first vocals on an album by Pink Floyd without Roger Waters. "Into the distance, a ribbon of black
Stretched to the point of no turning back". And there is no turning back. I am already hooked on this track, and this album, knowing I will not stop until I am through every track. I am simply flying into a new Pink Floyd sound, I have a new universe to discover.
A massive wall of sound surrounds me, the use of effects and instrumentation unlike almost anything yet heard in the 80s.
Dogs Of War starts off great, but is by many considered the weakest track on the album. I am not sure if I agree. In my opinion it fits beautifully inbetween Learning To Fly and One Slip. The sound is filled with hard guitars and backingvocals that could be taken from Dark Side Of The Moon. I think even the sax-solo fits well with everything. OK, the lyrics might not be the greatest ever written, but sometimes the instrumentation can do a lot as well, as they do now.
One Slip, starts slow, but intensifies as we go along. It has nice use of drums, percussion and bass. As well as Mr. Gilmour's guitar of course. I like the way they have built the song and the way the backing vocals are arranged. This is also the track that has the title of the album in the lyrics.
"One slip, and down the hole we fall
It seems to take no time at all
A momentary lapse of reason
That binds a life for life
A small regret, you won't forget,
There'll be no sleep in here tonight"
On The Turning Away is a classic Pink Floyd ballad. It has everything. A strong and laidback build-up, until it grows and grows to an elegant song that grabs you and takes you along. You can't help stomping your foot to this one, in steady rhythm. In the beginning it is just Gilmours voice and a synth, then an acoustic guitar joins in, before drums and bass are allowed into the party. The electric guitar is also allowed a place eventually. No Pink Floyd ballad without a solo from Mr. Gilmour, which is very understandable, he is a champion at those.
Yet Another Movie follows the great ballad. It starts off almost sci-fi like. Somehow it makes me think of the Alien-movies. I have no idea why. They have an elegant sound here too. Which is the case with every Pink Floyd album through the years. They have never released anything with poor sound-quality. Yet Another Movie is sort of an inbetween song. And it's not the only one. The thing is that they fit so well though. I just love how they have arranged the instruments in this song, to create an atmosphere and an incredible sound. The guitar solo is excellent also on this one.
A New Machine part 1 is a logical follow up to Yet Another Movie. The second part of the album is sort of conseptual, as it deals with loss of innocense, and gives portrait of a man in desperation. A New Machine is made by Gilmour manipulating his voice by a voicebox, and last for just over a minute.
It leads directly to the intstrumental Terminal Frost. A moody track, where the saxophone has a vital role in bringing through the emotions. It's very well played, and when I listened to it on headphones the first time I got small shivers down my spine. Because it sounds beautiful, really beautiful. Especially at the soloparts in the middle of the song, when the backing vocals wrap the whole thing in so beautifully.
A New Machine Part 2 is even shorter than the first part, and serves as merely an intermission towards the best track on the album.
Track 10. Sorrow.
The guitar in the beginning takes the control of you and whirls you inside the Pink Floyd universe. It is impossible to resist. On the other hand, after the 9 previous tracks there is no resistance left, if it ever was any. I am not really going to say more about Sorrow, other than that you have to lend an ear to it yourself. Then you will really hear the magic of Pink Floyd, and David Gilmour.
Is it a downer that Roger Waters is not participating on this album? Yes it is, but the quality of the album is outstanding anyway, so you don't really miss Waters after you have heard it. At least that is how I feel. I know that many fans of Pink Floyd disagree with me on that. Which I have no problem with. There will always be different opinions about music, and that is the beautiful thing with music - we all see and hear things differently.
I recommend this album very much. It is not Dark Side Of The Moon, it is no Wish You Were Here or The Wall. But it is an album by Pink Floyd and it is an extremely good one. I'd recommend you to buy it!
