Most musicians don’t go into the studio aiming to show off. The focus is always on doing justice to the song in front of them. Whether it’s their first or fiftieth time recording, it’s crucial to evaluate the project objectively, avoiding unnecessary flair like over-the-top guitar solos or grandstanding vocal performances.
Nick Mason, Pink Floyd’s drummer, adhered to this principle but has always kept a certain distance from one album in particular: A Momentary Lapse of Reason.
Considering the chaotic state of the band during that period, it’s a wonder the album came to life at all. The group was in the middle of legal disputes over the Pink Floyd name, primarily due to Roger Waters claiming ownership and control.
Despite the chaos, David Gilmour won the right to carry on under the Pink Floyd banner, leading to A Momentary Lapse of Reason—the band’s first album with Gilmour and Mason at the helm.
Though Richard Wright contributed as a session musician, he wouldn’t officially rejoin the band until The Division Bell. Mason’s involvement was similarly limited, as much of the album’s production and instrumentation veered away from the organic feel that defined Pink Floyd’s earlier work.
In fact, Mason’s drumming took a back seat to 1980s technology, with drum machines and session musicians like Jim Keltner taking over.
While these studio musicians were undeniably skilled, their presence made the album feel more like a David Gilmour solo record rather than a true Pink Floyd collaboration. Tracks like “Dogs of War” delve into radio-friendly rock, and the overall sound was heavily influenced by the production trends of the time.
In his memoir Inside Out, Mason reflected on his discomfort with the project: “It is a very careful album with very few risks taken. These things together make me feel ever so slightly removed from Momentary Lapse, to the point where it doesn’t always sound like us. However, ‘Learning to Fly’ does for some reason.”
Though the album feels like a product of its time, Pink Floyd’s live performances during this era told a different story. The Delicate Sound of Thunder tour, which accompanied the album, showed the band in its full glory.
With Mason back behind the drums and performances of songs like “On the Turning Away” bringing the band’s classic sound to life, it felt like the essence of Pink Floyd had returned.
However, A Momentary Lapse of Reason didn’t need to win over every fan. Its purpose was more about survival—proving that Pink Floyd could endure without Waters and still produce music that resonated with its audience.
And while it may not be considered the band’s finest work, it remains a testament to their resilience.
