#Bird in a gale roger waters tv

The steady flow held down by Waters’ impressive bass runs only makes the grim and pain-evoking lyrics that have it out for ants and the current president of the United States less choleric. The title track opens with a Donald Trump sound byte, so you can only imagine where it goes from there. “The Last Refugee” offers up as much heavy guitar as you’re going to get, whereas “Picture That” balances on a simple, sharp riff, so as to put the focus on Waters’ insolent lines - “Picture a leader with no fucking brains…” The synths, cast very much in a Floydian mode, only make the song more engaging, especially as the tempo comes to a crawl and a spacey, stormy ambiance swallows it to a close. “Déjà vu” is a moody, dramatic piece that eventually unfolds into a smoldering hotbed of Waters’ commentary on everything from religion to politics and whatever else falls in between the two. In between are 12 songs, plaintive, responsive, driven by ebullient piano work, tight drumming, layers of keys, heavy orchestration, stretches of guitar.

#Bird in a gale roger waters tv

Sonically, Is This The Life We Really Want? draws more than a few Floydian flavorings for inspiration - staticky radio and TV talking heads, late-night phone conversations, bombs, blasts, machinery, pan effects. After playing that album live in its entirety for three years, something clearly rubbed off - hard-boiled cynicism, distrust of politicians, uncertainty at every turn. It’s almost too easy to think Waters’ fifth solo album is yet another attempt to capture the lingering ache that resounded so powerfully on The Wall.

Well, as much sense as you can take away in the vitriol and often ominous tones that encompass the record. It may take a few spins to get at what Waters is trying to say, but gradually it all begins to sink in and make sense.

Given the good ears and nuanced sensibilities of Godrich, who has made a name for himself working with Radiohead, a band often associated, in one way or another, with Pink Floyd, the possibilities seemed endless. The Pink Floyd lyricist and bassist hasn’t released a solo album since 1992, and he needed some fresh blood to make this new record sizzle and pop - not a sad attempt at relevance. It only seems logical that Roger Waters would want someone like Nigel Godrich to produce his 2017 release Is This The Life We Really Want?.