Dark side of the moon musical analysis.

 

Dark side of the moon would be Pick Floyds eighth album and would finally see Pink Floyd realising mainstream success in what was their best album yet and indeed (arguably) the best album they would ever make. The album was largely influenced by their former band mate Syd Barret. Syd was the groups founder however when he started taking LSD it may have been that this is what turned him "mad" or that in exacerbated a condition(s) that he already had. Syd soon started behaving erratically not turning up to rehearsals or shows or if he did he played the wrong songs or didn't play at all. Soon he was replaced as lead guitarist by David Gilmour (a friend) but kept on as a non-performing band member to write songs for the group however despite being the creative powerhouse earlier on now he couldn't even write songs unless be it those that mysteriously changed structure, chords and lyrics every time it was performed (have you got it yet?). Eventually he was gotten rid of. The album dark side of the moon initial started as an album that talked about urban every day life and its difficulties however while being made it was soon turned into a meditation on madness by now lead man and songwriter Roger Waters.

 

At the time Pink Floyd were really on the cutting edge of technology using newer and better techniques to record their newest album. It was recorded at the legendary abbey road studios and made use of synthesisers as well as double track recording and was recorded on a 16 track machine (even though quite often Pink Floyd needed more than these sixteen tracks !). This double track recording was used extensively on Gilmour's guitar but also on Water's and Gilmour's vocals. Water's and Gilmour's vocals work very well all over the album but also in a way that it might not be noticed; this is because of the fact that Gilmour and water had (have) very similar vocal styles and voices which allowed them to double track in this way. The album also makes use or reversing parts as well as a large variety of samples specially on the song speak to me or the beginning of money. These samples were often of voices may of which were put over and between tracks. To get these voices pink Floyd interviewed a number of people using flashcards and then explored themes of death and violence with the interviewees whose responses were recorded 

 

The album is made using a symphonic like form where one song flows into the next and often are developments of each other. Pink Floyd were a progressive rock band and it was often the premise these bands to further music and to turn it in to more of an artformPink Floyd were well known for their long solo breaks this technique was used when the Pink Floyd were first a band still with Syd Barret and their repertoire wasn't particularly large however they discovered that by having huge solo breaks they could extend songs and therefore last the set maybe only with three. Dark side of the moon has some of these such as on money etc. Dark side of the moon starts with the fore mentioned speak to me which starts with a heartbeat slowly getting louder before other effects and samples start fading in before crescendoing into Breathe. Breathe makes use of slide guitar from Gilmour and is also sung by him this song is then reprised later on  in the album. Then we have On the run which has no lyrics but features cool synth sounds and footsteps running backwards and forwards and left and right across the listeners sonic field. Then there's time which start with the sounds of multiple clocks before changing to a repetitive synth sound over the top of which some pretty awesome chords are played before vocals come in showcasing one of the more rocky songs on the album. After this we have "the great gig in the sky" with a brilliant vocal solo from Clare Torry (who later sued Pink Floyd  for co-writing credits on the song) after this we have the show stopping gutsy "money" a song that talks about the dangers of having too much money and even seems against it (even though this song would make them plenty of money as the album sold over 35 million copies) and makes the unusual decision of changing between 4/4, 7/8 and 7/4 time signatures. We then have: Any colour you like it, Us and them (originally composed for a film but rejected by the director), Brain damage and then finale: eclipse.  


Dark sides of the moons death like and madness orientated music conjure up a powerful image in the mind of the beholder the album went on to sell over 35 million copies and became a hugely influential album that many believe was a pivotal moment in the evolution of rock music. Certainly it benefited the members of the band who came away from the album with a pretty large amount of money.