Aug 05 2008
The Evolution of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon
ALBUM REVIEW: Pink Floyd, The Dark Side of the Moon, Recorded in 1973 at Abbey Road Studios. Harvest Records: London, England
The album begins with the subtle rising sounds of a heart beating. The personified screams of birds transition into trademark David Gilmour guitar. The listener is borne into a world of audio hysteria. Breath, breath in the air. Don’t be afraid to care. The emotional journey of the opening track is a foretelling of the jarring sensations that comprise Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon.
What is almost as compelling as the message is the mystique surrounding the album. Some people believe that Pink Floyd intentionally synchronized the album with the 1939 film Wizard of Oz, one of the first American movies to use Technicolor. The synchrony has been called The Dark Side of the Rainbow or The Dark Side of Oz. However, whereas Dorothy literally embarks on an adventure to another dimension, The Dark Side of the Moon is a figurative exploration into the tormenting aspects of modern society.
Dissonant clock alarms mark the beginning of Time, an eye-opening memento mori on the fleeting aspects of youth. Before you know it, youth is lost and irrecoverable. Unfortunately, what replaces youth can be regret. Such a realization is a distressing shot to the head, but the strong guitar makes this morose message easier to swallow.
The rising sounds return with a beautiful vocal composition on The Great Gig in the Sky. Clare Torrey’s soaring vocals spin us on a calming journey. During the song, a tornado juggles Dorothy’s farm into the opaque land of Oz.
Money offers another commentary, this time on the false virtues of consumerism. Set to the noise of jingling coins and cash register sales, a strumming baseline establishes the song’s deriding lyrics against what is considered the central tenet of capitalist society.
The last song Eclipse serves as the album’s inspiring message for redemption. Musically, Eclipse segue ways from Brain Damage—the most detached and alienated track of the album. Juxtaposing the most motivating track with the most maddening track of the album—while keeping the songs audibly similar—optimizes the philosophical effect. The layering vocals push for us to accept our neurosis and cease the moment. Heartbeats return as the album comes to a finish, restoring a sense of clarity to the listener.
Demonstrating the diverse reach and seminal nature of the album, in 2003 a reggae group named the Easy Star All-Stars released a tribute album titled The Dub Side of the Moon. If you are a fan of live reggae, listen to the above performance.
