Pink Floyd
Delicate Sound Of Thunder

THE REVIEW

The delicate sound of thunder... a perfect title for this live album by the indomitable PINK FLOYD, who, as usual, know how to combine power and crystalline beauty.

The recording of this double CD dates back to 1987, during the tour of A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. The quality of the recording is simply fantastic, so much so that it can compete with ''studio'' albums.

Let's start with CD 1.

The atmospheric beginning introduces us to Shine On You Crazy Diamond, practically indispensable in every Pink Floyd concert since '75. A very light layer of keyboards and the touch of master David Gilmour's guitar are just the beginning... now all the instruments come in: the execution is impeccable. Gilmour's voice, slightly rougher, fits perfectly, although the ''pumped'' drums typical of the '80s production seem somewhat out of place.

All the other songs on the first disc are from their latest effort, ''A Momentary Lapse Of Reason''. It starts with their hit Learning To Fly: powerful, relaxing, and very catchy. In the live version, the keyboards in the middle section of the track are emphasized; also, I find the ending very well constructed: an interesting combination of drums and drum-machine replaces the fade-out of the studio version. However, Yet Another Movie/Round And Around does not change a note from the ''A Momentary... ''version. Gilmour again confirms his magic in the various guitar solos (initial, central, and final) of Sorrow, a very gritty composition with very interesting atmospheres. In The Dogs Of War, the sounds from the studio version, which simulated the growl of an angry dog, are replaced by keyboards; the guitar sounds very muffled, and the saxophone in the middle section is very rough and sharp. Despite the live rearrangement, the song does not stand out much, so that many fans consider it the lowest point in the Floydian career. It beautifully closes with On The Turning Away: this is once again a carbon copy of the studio version, but it was and remains splendid!

Now let's make a clear leap into the past with CD 2.

One Of These Days, the ''oldest'' song performed at this concert, is totally revisited in the '80s style. The initial bass line is made of the same notes as the original but has totally different sounds... less dry and much more fluid. The final part, although it is significantly simplified in rhythm and despite the drums having that ''pumped'' sound already described in Shine On You Crazy Diamond, is masterful (with the guitar always to the fore). That said, I can safely say that, in my opinion, One Of These Days is the most successful piece of the entire concert. A perfect performance of Time follows, probably one of the most beautiful songs, if not the most beautiful, in the entire group’s repertoire (although here, strangely, it is deprived of Breathe Reprise present in the original, which leaves a bit of a sense of something unfinished). The levels remain excellent with the very famous and acoustic Wish You Were Here... needless to say, the performance is flawless, and it is truly a pleasure to hear the crowd singing along with Gilmour! The dreamy Us And Them is perhaps the only episode of the double album where the electronic sound of the drums stands out quite a bit, so much as to be quite annoying in some passages. After Us And Them, another track from ''The Dark Side Of The Moon'' follows: the evergreen Money, extended to allow room in the middle section for various solos and jams by all the band members: a good way to showcase their undeniable qualities. Another Brick In The Wall Part II could not be missed (unfortunately, the wonderful introduction The Happiest Days Of Our Lives is not played...), where the singer's lower and gruffer tone almost sounds better than the original version. The other highlight of the album, Comfortably Numb, follows. Here the same exact discussion made earlier for One Of These Days applies, i.e., we find ourselves with an impressive restyling in perfect '80s style. Moreover, the final distorted guitar solo, extended to the extreme, is something absolutely irreplicable. I have no words: it’s a version worth listening to, and alone it justifies the purchase of ''Delicate Sound Of Thunder''!. The closure is entrusted to Run Like Hell. After the initial minute of pure guitar wizardry (incredible guitar feedback), the actual song begins, which is pure energy... the best way to close the concert.

In conclusion... it is difficult to rate this concert: if, like me, you're a fan of both Pink Floyd and the '80s, then this will be your definitive album! If you're a ''traditional'' fan of the group, honestly, Pulse is better. If, finally, you're from that group that considers them dead after Roger Waters’ departure, you will surely prefer Is There Anybody Out There or Live at Pompeii.

It's up to you to make the tough decision, and, as always, happy listening!