Pink Floyd
Wish You Were Here

It might be at least the tenth time. But, there's always something more to say. Much has been said, perhaps too much about this album. An absolute masterpiece? Maybe. But not for the writer, and fortunately not just for him.
Well. It's 1975 and after the controversial "The Dark Side Of The Moon," "Wish You Were Here" is released. The thing that immediately stands out (besides the cover) is the length of the songs, something Pink Floyd had accustomed us to but only in part. A solid album, yet elusive, thanks to the extensive use of electronics, smooth sounds, long durations, and choral nature. The backgrounds are incredible. Clouds. Clouds that Gilmour occasionally delights in tearing asunder with guitar flashes, which never verge into perilous virtuosity (in)useful only for insiders. The atmosphere is dangerously dense. There is no respite.

So, the record starts. Silence. For thirty seconds "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" is an organ crescendo, then you start hearing other sounds, a flute (I think), then Gilmour comes in. It's all so wonderfully perfect. Everything fits perfectly, in a succession of tense atmospheres with no relief, not even when they collapse into a cursed guitar arpeggio, which, however, lets some rays of sunshine through. Then, increasingly nervous, the guitar leads us to Waters. He sings. It's all real. In the end, we're escorted by a beautiful sax, that of Dick Parry. One of the album's most accomplished parts.  

The tension does not diminish in the next track "Welcome To The Machine", which, however, presents a more usual architecture. Here, more than in any other song, the heavy use of electronics stands out. Fades, tremendous attacks. All accompanied by Gilmour's perpetual acoustic guitar.

The central part of the album gives us two other beautiful songs. "Have A Cigar" and "Wish You Were Here" seem to detach, especially the former, from the tension created by the previous two tracks. It closes with a guitar solo that will set a standard for many. Some blues lessons, to be honest, he took too. Anyway, the album continues with "Wish You Were Here", the most beautiful track on the album, according to the undersigned. Some tension starts to rebuild, and all in an atmosphere so real, it gives you chills. It's real because it's not pure delirious madness, but sincere drama. The lyrics are beautiful.

It closes with the second part, which includes parts VI to IX, of the very long (perhaps too long?) suite "Shine On You Crazy Diamond".

To tell the truth, the album could have ended perfectly with "Wish You Were Here" since this second part adds nothing to the first. It just seems to be a photocopy of a different color. One is as good as the other, and together they are useless.  

So, the album is meticulously crafted, truly perfect. But perhaps something is missing. The insight, the flash of genius of Barrett surely. The element of surprise is missing; nothing that is played is utterly surprising. One already knows how it will end. It's an album that carries you to the end without a: "let me hear that again, because I didn't understand how it fits". It's all too perfect. It lacks sincere emotion, which we actually find only in "Wish You Were Here".

From a strictly musical point of view. Beautiful songs, certainly not absolute masterpieces, but honest compositions from a group that had already said much. Ultimately: could they have spared us? Frankly, I don't believe so. It remains a beautiful record, even if too simple, which certainly did not make history, but took it and played it back in a different key.  

Rating: 6