The Witching Hours Session – 01/04/2018.

Pink Floyd.

Pink Floyd were formed in London in 1965. They achieved international acclaim with their progressive and psychedelic music. They are one of the most commercially successful and influential groups in popular music history.

Pink Floyd were founded by students Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters and Richard Wright’. They gained popularity performing in London’s underground music scene during the late 1960s, and under Barrett’s leadership released two charting singles and a successful debut album, ‘The Piper at the Gates of Dawn’ (1967). Guitarist and vocalist David Gilmour joined in December 1967; Barrett left in April 1968 due to deteriorating mental health. Waters became the band’s primary lyricist and conceptual leader, devising the concepts behind their albums ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ (1973), ‘Wish You Were Here’ (1975), ‘Animals’ (1977), ‘The Wall ‘(1979) and The Final Cut (1983).

Following creative tensions, Wright left Pink Floyd in 1979, followed by Waters in 1985. Gilmour and Mason continued as Pink Floyd; Wright rejoined them as a session musician and, later, a band member. The three produced two more albums—A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) and The Division Bell (1994)—and toured through 1994.

Pink Floyd were inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. By 2013, the band had sold more than 250 million records worldwide.

Tonight’s listening;

1 – The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn (1967)

Pink Floyd’s debut album was a bewitching psychedelic survey of mythology mainly down to the influence of Syd Barrett a man so lost in there he never would return. The title of Pink Floyd’s debut album is taken from a chapter in Syd Barrett’s favorite children’s book, ‘The Wind in the Willows’, it ranks it as one of the best psychedelic albums of all time.

2 – Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)

The primary revelation of ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ is what a little focus does for the band. Roger Waters wrote a series of songs about mundane, everyday details which aren’t that impressive by themselves, but when given the sonic backdrop of Floyd’s slow, atmospheric soundscapes and carefully placed sound effects, they achieve an excellent piece of work.

3 – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Pink Floyd followed the commercial breakthrough of ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ with ‘Wish You Were Here’, a loose concept album about and dedicated to their founding member Syd Barrett. The record unfolds gradually, as the jazzy textures of ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond’ reveal its melodic motif, and in its leisurely pace, the album shows itself to be a warmer record than its predecessor. Musically, it’s arguably even more impressive, showcasing the group’s interplay and David Gilmour’s solos in particular. And while it’s short on actual songs, the long, winding soundscapes are constantly enthralling.

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