Well, it's an improvement. No electronic birdies for a start.
You can tell fromt he first ten minutes that this would be a terriffic album to hear live. But then, there are more fulfilling ways to spend six hours.
Because six hours is about the amount of time it would take to allow the Floyd time enough to wring the very last drop of nuance out of its' throbbing, interminable stadium worthy music.
Actually, "worthy" is the word I'd use to describe WYWH. While Ummagumma is the epitome of Experimental Prog Rock, WYWH is it's slightly calmer older brother. The evolution of Floyd's singular style couldn't be more obvious. WYWH is everything Prog Rock should be - forty-five minutes of gadumbadumba................whee...........howl..................wooo interrupted with two verses of sung accompaniment.
Listening to it is to be transported back to 1975, looking out over the ocean, Cinzano in hand, with "Shine on you crazy diamond" floating out of your 8-track and over the water.
Background music, like Dinner Party Jazz could never be.
Next time: The Final Cut
