The genesis of what will be (the survivors have sworn it) the last Pink Floyd album lends itself to multiple discussions and interpretations: a real tribute to Rick Wright who disappeared too soon or a lowly mercantile operation? Anyway, after its surprise announcement last spring, the item is there, now holding the record for the number of pre-orders on the most important online sales site.
Composed of four large suites cut into 18 tracks, The Endless River is thus mostly based on songs written and played by Rick Wright and David Gilmour during the recording sessions of The Division Bell, originally planned as a double album and finally released as a single 20 years ago. Thanks to a great deal of restoration and production work done by Phil Manzanera, Youth and Andy Jackson, David Gilmour and Nick Mason were able to resume and complete these tracks to make a coherent assembly, in a very atmospheric vein well rendered by instrumental compositions (with the exception of Louder than Words).
The spirit of this record? Undeniably Floydian: soaring, symphonic by the grace of incomparable keyboards, poignant by the guitar interventions like no other, and summoning over the tracks the band's past compositions. 'Shine on you Crazy Diamond' is thus invited from the second track (It's What we Do), 'The Wall' is clearly evoked through the two parts of 'Allons-y', the 'live in Pompeii' shines behind 'Sum and even more Links', with drum rolls and experimental dissonant sonorities, while the female backing vocals notably present on the hypnotising and poignant 'Talkin' Hawkin'' recall the ambiences of 'The Dark Side of the Moon'. Of course, the ambiences of 'The Division Bell' are also present, but the instrumental rendering limits this evocation, except for 'Louder than Words' which, even if it probably won't reach the top of the charts, carries its weight of emotion considering the context and the necessarily evocative lyrics.
The spirit of the great Rick Wright, particularly highlighted by his friends, hovers over the whole album, with his keyboard sounds participating in the final rendering, with a rare peak of intensity on 'Autumn '68', a track where he uses the great organ of the Royal Albert Hall. More than a homage, it is finally a final highlight of this magnificent artist, whose role is sometimes far too underestimated in the analysis of the band's work.
After all the fears that such an announcement could arouse, we have to admit that we have between our ears a great album. Disregarding the conditions of its making, let's rather judge the object on its musical value alone and there, there's really no deception on the merchandise, posing as a magnificent testament of one of the greatest bands in the history of Rock.