Pink Floyd
Live at Pompeii Original Concert Film (DVD)
(hear it)

In this concert, the Pink Floyd is essentially a Nick Mason project. His drumming propels the music. Roger Waters is doing the classic second period Pink Floyd bass thing, Doong Diing Doong Diing, playing one note or alternating with an octave for several minutes. Richard Wright is, to be honest, kind of replaceable here - his synthesizer and piano playing is effective, but not particularly distinctive. On the other hand, David Gilmour is incredible; his singing and guitar playing give the band a clear voice and character. But even Gilmour is essentially along for the ride as the drums create the structure, most of the texture, and a large part of the energetic force of the concert.

Pink Floyd is fascinating because it has had so many different visions. Syd Barret, Roger Waters, David Gilmour, here Nick Mason, maybe Richard Wright on Atom Heart Mother (that album had to come from somewhere) - each seems to have been the director of the project at times. Dark Side of the Moon's singular place in their repertoire may be due to the sharing of intention it evidences.

In Live at Pompeii's so-called "director's cut", really just a new movie using some of the same footage, there is an amazing multi-viewpoint segment of Mason doing essentially a drum-solo (it's been a year or two since I saw this version).

bb, 27 Feb 08