After The Final Cut (1983), Pink Floyd were no more. So decreed Roger Waters, key lyricist and driving creative force in the band. But guitarist David Gilmour had other ideas and in 1986 he began working with drummer Nick Mason in the floating studio he had created on the magnificent houseboat Astoria, moored along the river Thames. The demos and sketches they recorded eventually became a new Pink Floyd album: A Momentary Lapse Of Reason. Foundation keyboard player Richard Wright was recruited as a salaried musician—only Gilmour and Mason appear in the photo on the inner gatefold of the original release—and several songs were co-writes with people outside the band. Production (and musical contributions) from producer of The Wall, Bob Ezrin, provided some sense of continuity to the project but critics complained that this was essentially a David Gilmour solo project.
The project may have been led by Gilmour but the result sounds exactly as one would expect a 1980s Pink Floyd record to sound. A Momentary Lapse Of Reason was released in September 1987. It, and the subsequent world tour, were highly successful; it seemed fans were more than willing to forgive some uninspired moments and overlook the preponderance of chugging mid-paced songs. Nor did they seem overly concerned by the absence of Roger Waters. This was, after all, the mighty Pink Floyd and they put on a great show. Your correspondent saw the band when the tour reached Melbourne in 1988 and thoroughly enjoyed the pomp, pyrotechnics and pictures on the massive circular screen. By the time “Run like hell” ended the night with a fusillade of light and sound, the entire audience in a packed Rod Laver arena were on their feet.
Listening to the 2021 re-issue, A Momentary Lapse Of Reason holds up very well. Partially this is due to the improved sound, the album having been remixed in 2019 for the Later Years box set. A toning down of the reverb and re-recording of some of Mason’s drum parts are the most noticeable differences, though those with keen ears will notice more of Wright’s subtle keyboard touches and an overall improvement in clarity that serves the music well. “Dogs of war” is thrillingly bombastic, while there is a genuinely touching quality to “On the turning away” that compares favourably with the interminable ranting characterising Roger Waters’ lyrics from The Wall onwards. Closing song “Sorrow” has something of that epic Floyd sound that fans know and love, meaning that at the end of this 45RPM re-issue, you are more than likely to line it up for another listen.
Finally, mention must be made of the superb packaging of the 2021 version. The original cover was by Storm Thorgerson, the Hipgnosis designer who was figural in many classic Floyd album covers. For the new edition another photo from the same shoot was used, providing both continuity and a sense of difference: this is the same album, yet not the same. Perhaps it’s a bit like that for fans, too. I liked this album when it was released, and I appreciate it even more now. It has aged well, the same yet not the same. As are we all.
Of all the photos taken for Discrepancy Records posts, I think this is my favourite.
First published at Discrepancy Records, February 2022. Reposted with kind permission.
vinylconnection.com.au 
I’ve heard “moments” of Momentary, and don’t dis-like it. My impression then, though, was that the band was just marking time, giving fans more of that classic “Pink Floyd sound” that they all knew and loved. Which isn’t necessarily bad, I guess.
Wonder what Syd thought when he heard it? 😐
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Kind of a bit middle-aged, then? 😉
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Ha! (I’m 66.) Was of course being facetious about Syd. From what I’ve read the only music he listened to post-leaving London was Monk or Miles.
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It was a different band with Syd.
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Yes, it was.
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The band had more experimental music with Syd in it.
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It was certainly more 60s sounding. Syd had a particular vision of music that infused the debut; a short but intense roman candle of creativity.
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Gilmour is an uderrated guitarist.
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Floyd was still a very good band in the 90’s.
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It’s always nice to put a record on immediately after the first listening because of appreciation rather than later after applying something like an arbitrary three-listens-to-give-it-a-chance-to-grow-on-you rule.
~
A hell of a lot of Ambient stuff is being played at my place at the moment, that plus Hammond organ work – old and new. It seems to be everywhere (meaning the jazz internet radio stations that I listen to) at the moment.
It. helps the Focus.
Thanks
Kind regards
DD
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I have to say I was happy Pink Floyd kept it going. While “A Momentary Lapse of Reason” is a good deal away from their ’70s classics, I always thought it was a step up from “The Final Cut.” That latter album to me was the low point.
BTW, I also saw Pink Floyd live, for the first time in the late ’80s in Germany. I caught them a second time in the US in 1994 during the “Division Bell” tour. Both shows were phenomenal.
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First time in the 80s for me too (Melbourne) and the Division Bell tour in Hannover. 🙂
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I got this on vinyl when it came out as a teenager (then 16 or 17). Liked it quite well, didn’t give a rip if it was missing any of the former guys. Gilmour knew the sound and helped make it. Funny, I don’t know how you feel about The Smiths but I remember the lightbulb that went off listening to Johnny Marr’s solo material and realizing how much of their sound was him. Of course you miss the alchemy and complete experience when you take out those key members. I like the observation about it being the same but different, that’s good.
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An album I have never given enough time. I was in PF limbo for a lot of years. Maybe it’s time to put on an illegal smile and give it a good go. I’m still stuck in ‘Meddle’ days. You have a way of talking me into things. Some people have that effect on me.
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Definitely worth a Floyd lifer checking out, CB. 🙂
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I have it but was buried under the other PF records crying to get out.
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LOL. You da liberator.
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I love the hell out of this album. Got me right into Floyd. I want that tshirt too
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That’s great. Well, I’ve kinda grown out of the t-shirt (sideways, sadly) but it *is* a rather nice memento of the concert. 🙂
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Not convinced about the new cover with the hanglider though.
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You liked it more when it was a distant ship, smoke on the horizon? 😉
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Yes, it’s original packaging on vinyl was one of the greatest album covers of all Time ⏲️ ⏲️ for me.
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A very interesting blog. Whilst the record is evidently steeped in the methods and production value of it’s day, I believe the album has held up very well over the years. And for me, sounds more like a Pink Floyd album than The Final Cut ever did. Not the latter is bad but it reeked of Roger Waters solo album!
I agree that the 2019 remixed version with the new drum parts is an improvement on the 1987. Whilst it’s clearly not their best, I always felt A Momentary Lapse Of Reason is a worthy addition to the Floyd back catalogue.
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Thanks for visiting, Del, and I’m delighted you enjoyed the read. Like that phase ‘a worthy addition’. Not brilliant or amazing, but solid and enjoyable.
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I’m convinved it ended up a Pink Floyd album as opposed to a Gilmour solo album just to annoy Waters which it did! Waters assesment of the record is that it’s a “clever forgery”.
Solid and enjoyable. Yes, wish I’d have thought of that!!!
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