Pink Floyd have always let the music do the talking. The band that defined and perfected progressive rock through the 70s, they consistently put out exciting music despite being rocked by inner turmoil and the loss of not one but two key songwriters in Syd Barrett and then Roger Waters. Twenty years on from what most considered their final record ‘The Division Bell’, the decision to release a compilation of unreleased pieces as a tribute to recently passed keyboardist Richard Wright was met with a mixed reaction among their huge fanbase, but the dreamy soundscapes that make up ‘The Endless River’ are a fitting epitaph for both Wright and Pink Floyd the band.
That it is for the most part instrumental is strangely appropriate, as despite boasting both a genius lyricist in Waters and very gifted vocalist in guitar wizard David Gilmour, the Floyd has always reached its greatest heights through wordless expression carved out by their instruments. From the slowly building textures of “Things Left Unsaid” across the 53 minutes of the album until the dying moments of “Louder than Words”, only the latter track features any lyrics at all – instead, the music is left to speak for itself. Picking highlights from among the four bona-fide symphonies is nigh impossible as each works best in their entirety, but the doom organ on “Autumn ’68” is an intriguing standout, as is the expansive, ethereal wash of the six minute “It’s What We Do”. Gilmour’s guitar work is of course exquisite, his lacerating leads lighting up the beds of ambience that ebb and flow effortlessly, driven forward by Nick Mason’s understated drumming.
Immaculately produced, smoothly flowing and with no indication of its nature as a collection of discarded cuts, ‘The Endless River’ is a hugely enjoyable final statement from one of the most important bands in the history of popular music. While the darkness and angst that Waters brought to the table may be missed among some of the die-hards, those with a taste for tastefully crafted instrumental prog with a touch of whimsy to it will revel in the exquisite sounds to be found here. That the genre in its original form is now all but extinct is a shame, as the godfathers of it still sound timeless today. No words are needed for a human connection to these songs – to paraphrase Ronan Keating (of all people), the Floyd say it best when they say nothing at all.
~ Michael Bird