There’s a lot of stuff appearing on the web about Richard Wright but so few articles fully appreciate the magic ingredient that he and the other members of Pink Floyd had; the ability to blend their individuality around high-level musical constructs.
Which all sounds a bit arty-farty Radio Four, but if you break down what they did… it isn’t at all.
I’m sprawled in bed listening to Echoes.
Because Richard/Rick had such a significant input to this work the obits glibly mention it in his list of achievements.
But what the obit writers don’t get is, aside from his composition/pre-production roles, the way that Wright, Waters, Mason and Gilmour were able to blend themes, sounds and redirect the listeners ear.
Sure, I get the keys. But I also get the percussion. And the typical Waters-inspired melodies. And Gilmour’s unbelievable guitars.
And I get all of these things as part of the overall pattern of music that these talented individuals have woven for my ears.
I get the masterfully made, minutely mixed, melodious, mellifluous, moody, mindbogglingly mystical meal (sorry about that) that these four musicians have produced.
This is part of Wright’s work, the ability to take a Gilmourish phrase or a Watersesque melody and incorporate these parts in to a greater musical whole.
Pink Floyd gave us better overall works than Echoes, but as an example of the blend contributions they all brought in, this is the best.
I’m only sad that I have already recorded the weekend’s podcast and won’t be able to offer a timely tribute to Richard Wright.
B.
They seem to be a band marked by such tragedy, don’t they?
Hi Princess, well Syd was always living on the edge (in more way than one). But in my simple little head the tragedy was the falling-out and subsequent legal dispute.
You have expressed their art magnificently. It wasn’t that easy to describe how their music was constructed. Well done.
They are music markers just like Jimi Hendrix or the Doors were, for different reasons.
There were few folks who could make such great music with so few notes as Pink Floyd. As a miserably failed guitarist, I was always amazed at Gilmour’s soaring solos. And Wright was truly underappreciated. The whole was greater than the sum of the parts.
Bulldog, aye. The mix was perfect.
My bro in law will be devasted with that news about Richard Wright, he was a huge fan.