The Division Bell

Columbia Records (USA)

Occupation

The Division Bell is the fourteenth and final studio album by British rock band Pink Floyd, released on 30 March 1994 in the UK and Europe, and on April 5 in the United States.

The predominantly written by guitarist David Gilmour and keyboardist Richard Wright album is thematically dedicated to communication, but unlike Pink Floyd albums like The Dark Side of the Moon or The Wall not a concept album. It originated in different studios, including Abbey Road Studios (London ) and David Gilmour's houseboat The Astoria. In addition to Anthony Moore also Gilmour's wife Polly Samson was was involved in the songwriting. Samson and Gilmour were married in 1994 during the subsequent tour. Samson is so beside the singer Clare Torry ( co-author on The Great Gig in the Sky from the album The Dark Side of the Moon ), the only female person who has ever been named as the author of a Pink Floyd song. Keyboardist Richard Wright is heard for the first time since the 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon on Wearing the Inside Out as a singer on a song of the band. Furthermore, he is first mentioned in 1975 as a songwriter since the album Wish You Were Here.

Formation

In January 1993, Gilmour, Mason and Wright first began work on new songs. These were initially undertaken in the converted Britannia Row Studios. Although the group initially had doubts about working on new songs, but soon grew the confidence of the group, so that the bass player Guy Pratt was asked to join the recordings. According to Nick Mason Pratt helped that the songs already worked out a new mood was awarded.

The recordings of some improvisations helped the band when preparing new songs, so after about two weeks about 65 songs were created. With the sound engineer Andy Jackson and co- producer Bob Ezrin production was then laid on Gilmour's houseboat and recording studio Astoria. There, the resulting songs were listened to and valued by each member, so that finally about 27 songs made ​​the final selection. Furthermore, some songs were discarded, others were joined together, resulting in, after further selection resulted in 15 tracks, finally met you more choices, so that eventually appeared eleven songs on the album. For the evaluation of the songs the band took advantage of a special points system in which each member assessed the songs with up to ten points.

The majority of the finally selected songs was included in the Olympic Studios during a week; after a summer break, more songs were recorded on Gilmour's houseboat.

Background

The album title is derived from the bell ( Division Bell ), which is rung at the Palace of Westminster ( the building of the British Parliament ) to call on Members to vote. Chosen the title of the British science fiction writer Douglas Adams, a friend of Gilmour. As a birthday gift from the band was allowed Adams - who himself played a little guitar - accompany on the following tour at a concert in London on 28 October 1994, the band on guitar.

In addition to David Gilmour and Nick Mason Richard Wright returned as a full band member. The album is again very similar to the " Classical phase " by Pink Floyd. As with the previous album, A Momentary Lapse of Reason, the opinion of the fans was divided: While many welcomed the return to earlier levels, while others lamented a lack of substance of the songs. The subsequent tour was extremely successful, and sat by the A Momentary lapse of Reason - tour for that time other standards which light show, sound quality and stage performance is concerned.

The cover design of The Division Bell was again designed by Storm Thorgerson, from which, inter alia, came the album cover of The Dark Side of the Moon and Wish You Were Here. In the photo of the title Covers can result from ( depending on the visual style ), the two metal sculptures depicted both as two inter- speaking individuals are seen as well as a face. The two sculptures were taken photos over several weeks in all weather conditions and time of day until Thorgerson was satisfied. Specifics of those ways is on the black tray the original CD ( left of the Booklet front in the shell ) the band's name embossed in Braille.

On the piece Keep Talking is the physicist Stephen Hawking, who has to rely on the help of a talking computer for a tracheotomy to hear in several places of the song, where he lectured on the importance of language and communication.

Reception

After publication, the album topped the charts in numerous countries. In the sales charts, the album reached number 1 in the UK, USA as well as in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Over 12 million albums were sold worldwide. Were in Germany alone sold 1.3 million albums and was almost 60 weeks in the Top 100 charts. Great success celebrated the album in Italy, where it topped the charts for several months.

Tour

Just two days after the album's release, the Division Bell tour began in Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami. The setlist began with Astronomy Domine of 1967, followed by A Momentary Lapse of songs from Reason and Division Bell album. Furthermore represented were songs from the three albums success The Dark Side of the Moon ( which was played during this tour also published in full ), Wish You Were Here and The Wall. After completion of the tour the instrumental cluster One was the only piece of the current album, which was performed by the band never live. The other instrumental Marooned in turn was only played at two concerts in Oslo, Norway. The last concert of the tour took place on 29 October 1994 at the Earls Court in London. The concert on 20 October 1994, published as part of the live album Pulse on VHS and later on DVD. For the CD version recordings of various concerts of the European tour were used.

Title list

Quotes

"It feels politically incorrect to to take the idea from an advertisement, but it seemed to be a very suitable piece. "

"The album is more potent than handmade, like a band playing together in a room. I think, especially Rick [ Richard Wright ] felt more this time integrated into the process as compared to [ A] Momentary Lapse [ of Reason ]. It was nice to have him back there. "

" Only bullshit ... bullshit from beginning to end. "

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