Pink Floyd

By Pradeep Damodara

psychedelia / saɪkə’diːliə / (noun) [U]

1 seeing and hearing things that are not there or do not exist (usually caused due to drugs)

2 of bright colors, strange sounds, etc. like those that are experienced when taking psychedelic drugs.

3 PINK FLOYD

 Pink Floyd was started in the 1960’s by four university students. Four unassuming guys, one common taste in music. They took the world by storm with their psychedelic, progressive-ish rock music, and gave people everywhere a genre to look up to. A style of music to drown oneself in.

The band was initially led by Syd Barrett, then by Roger Waters, and then by Dave Gilmour till it was dissolved in 1994. The line-up may have changed over the years, but the music was always as pure as ever. Each album has had its own inherent flavor and elements, but always with the typical backbone of drugged exhilaration.

Now, let’s talk about the music.

‘Drugged exhilaration’ isn’t some random phrase-thing I came up with to sound cool. Play ‘High Hopes’, lie back and close your eyes. Lose yourself in the song. Then you’ll stop sniggering at my flowery language. You will have been enlightened.

The psychedelia persists through every song, but the moods/flavours change perceptibly from album to album… and I’m not sure how to describe this in words.

Let’s see… In ‘A Saucerful of Secrets’ the mood is more mysterious and mellow, whereas ‘The Darkside of the Moon’ portrays a more sinister and morose feel. Similarly, ‘Wish You Were Here’ tends to be dark/reflective, while ‘Animals’ feels angry and resentful, and is clearly anti-political.

Then comes ‘The Wall’. This album featured the songs ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ and ‘Comfortably’. If you haven’t heard them, I feel sorry for you. They are considered the band’s most famous songs, and arguably (I contest this) their best.

After ‘The Final Cut’, Roger Waters left the band, and Gilmour led the group to their next album, ‘A Momentary Lapse of Reason’. This album is a slight departure from the band’s usual style of music, and I personally don’t like it much. A momentary lapse of reason on their part perhaps.

The next album released was ‘The Division Bell’. Ladies and gentlemen, my favourite album. It has ‘Coming Back to Life’ and ‘High Hopes’, their best tracks IMO. And the overall feel of the album is faithful to the band’s original flavor of music. A good thing, if you ask me.

The live tour in which the band played songs from ‘The Division Bell’, ‘The Darkside of the Moon’, and some of their most famous tracks was christened ‘Pulse’. WATCH. THE. CONCERT. ‘Shine on You Crazy Diamond’ is not something you want to miss.

I’ve only covered the more well-known Floyd albums here (read: those which I’ve listened to). So don’t hate me, I’m not special like them. And I’m no authority on this. Each album has had its own style, but has always been typical Floyd, with the power to indulge, inflame, or carry you away into a different world.

There are some things you can’t really do without feeling insufficient, or like you’ve missed something important, or you just didn’t do justice to it. And talking about Pink Floyd is one of them. So don’t take my word for it. Go, download, listen.

Some of you may have gotten high on alcohol. Or on that kick from the first drag on a smoke.

I… have been high on Floyd.