Mening
Contents
That’s it… There’s no more music. Is there something I’m missing? Yes, of course there is! The performance of the band with Roger Waters at Live 8 on 2 July 2005 in London is the first thing that comes to mind. Even though this memorable concert by EMI, Pink Floyd’s old record label, has already been released on DVD, I suspect it’s a matter of rights that the performance now shines through absence. I also miss image and/or sound recordings of other benefit concerts such as the Chelsea Arts Ball at the Royal Albert Hall in London on 11 October 1992 and the Cowdray Ruins Concert on 18 September 1993 in the park near the ruins of the same name in Midhurst.
The documentary “La Carrera Panamerica” from 1992 is also nowhere to be seen. The registration of the car race of the same name through Mexico in 1991 contains both existing and new material. It is therefore very unfortunate that, at the intercession of David Gilmour, these images and music cannot be found in this box. Unfortunately this is not the only interesting material that did not reach the collector due to the intervention of the guitarist. Apparently he also stopped Peace Be With You, a demo about Roger Waters, and early versions of Signs Of Life and One Slip.
Extras?
In contrast to “The Early Years”, “The Later Years” is quite sparse when it comes to demos, outtakes and other unreleased material. Surely there must be more material that will stay on the shelf now? Because “The Endless River” consists for a large part of leftover material from the sessions for “The Division Bell”, I can understand that this safe is almost empty, but there must be some remnants of the recordings for “A Momentary Lapse Of Reason” somewhere? Especially considering the laborious creation of this record. Or would releasing these demos be too painful?
In addition to all this audio and video violence, “The Later Years” also contains some beautiful printed matter, including two books designed by Aubrey Powell and Peter Curzon (StormStudios) with lyrics, credits and mostly unreleased photos. Of course the usual memorabilia such as tour passes, concert tickets, stickers and posters, but also replicas of the tour books from 1987/1988, 1989 and 1994 can be found in this box.
A few comments
All in all, I can recommend Pink Floyd’s fans of the later years with a penchant for collecting all kinds of trinkets “The Later Years 1987-2019”. However, given the lack of really special material, it is difficult to recommend this pricey box to the rest of the band’s fans without any comments. For me, the successful refurbishment of “A Momentary Lapse Of Reason” – together with the calendered music film of “Delicate Sound Of Thunder” – is the big attraction. I’m also very pleased with the (new) high-res stereo and surround mixes, but I’m afraid that’s all.
For general music lovers and fans who share my cool reaction to this collection box, it is to be hoped that Pink Floyd will also release the contents of “The Later Years” in the near future. Then we will be able to make our own selection from this material. The separate release of parts from the box has been done before with “The Early Years”, so why shouldn’t they do the same now?
