Iconic Group Pink Floyd Releases a Timeless, Classic Album ‘The Endless River’

Greg Schwartz

When Pink Floyd released “The Division Bell” and toured the world in 1994, no one knew that would turn out to be the band’s swan song. Now, 20 years later, guitarist David Gilmour and drummer Nick Mason have seen fit to issue one more album of unreleased tracks from those sessions.  “Louder Than Words”, featured in a new video, is the only song on the album with vocals. But the instrumental tracks deliver the classic sonic grandeur Pink Floyd is known for and “The Endless River” works as a tribute to keyboardist Rick Wright, who passed away in 2008.

Fans have debated for years about the worthiness of a Pink Floyd lineup sans bassist and co-founder Roger Waters. But Waters basically fired Wright during The Wall era, a confounding decision considering how Wright’s signature style is a key element of the band’s legendary sound. “The Endless River’s” album cover conjures an image similar to Frodo Baggins sailing off to eternal life with the elves at the end of The Lord of the Rings. It is a fitting tribute considering how Wright and Pink Floyd’s influence on popular music will also burn eternal.

Some tracks sound similar to Division Bell songs, such as “Talkin’ Hawkin’”, which features some of the same Stephen Hawking sound bites as DB’s “Keep Talking”. But other tracks recall vintage Floyd sounds from the ‘60s and ‘70s, making this album an appropriate denouement for the band’s career. Gilmour’s guitar tone rings with that classic searing psychedelia and Mason contributes majestic percussion throughout. But it’s Wright who is really painting the majority of these sonic landscapes with his signature sound and style.

The album is split into four sides, which might seem anachronistic to younger music fans who have never owned vinyl. But Gilmour has said that “The Endless River” is meant to be digested as a whole, rather than by downloading tracks here or there as many digital music consumers do. The first side is an ambient entry, but with simmering psychedelia. Side two picks up with “Sum”, as Gilmour’s guitar comes alive like the inner voice of some higher cosmic entity fighting for survival. There’s a mystical synergy between Gilmour and Wright that remains among the most unique in rock history. This energy continues to flow on “Skins”, with Mason’s percussion becoming a dominant factor. “Anasina” shifts gears with an upbeat jazzy vibe and some saxophone on one of the album’s most vital tracks.

Side three moves back into a cinematic ambiance before the surging “Allons-y”, a multi-part gem that conjures sonic echoes from “The Wall.” Side four wraps with “Louder Than Words,” a seeming statement on music’s ultimate power as the true universal language. Bonus track “Nervana” is another winner, with Gilmour cranking up his guitar for a blast of straightforward rock power befitting one of the most powerful band’s in music history. “The Endless River” is likely to be the last Pink Floyd music the world is going to get and it is a worthy coda.

‘The Endless River’ will be released on Nov. 7.