sixth studio album english progressive rock group released october produced band touring commitments january august album recorded series locations london including material work clear idea album direction group devised series novel experiments eventually inspired album signature track echoes band later albums unified central theme lyrics written mainly group effort lyrical contributions member considered transitional album group late 1960s emerging cover incorporating close shot ear underwater previous albums designed unhappy final result album received music critics release despite commercially successful united_kingdom lackluster publicity united_states based label led poor sales initial release recording returning series tours america england support heart mother start pink floyd commenced work new material abbey road studios london time equipped track recording facilities band found insufficient increasing technical demands project transferred best efforts including opening echoes track tape smaller studios london air morgan west resumed work advantage flexible recording equipment engineers recorded main abbey road air sessions minor work morgan handled engineering duties lacking central theme project band experimental methods attempt spur creative process exercise involved member playing separate track reference members tempo entirely random band played agreed chord structure moods minutes romantic tempo recorded section named process largely weeks complete songs created worked albums george_harrison things pass sentimental journey employed tape operator partly working early hours morning said sessions begin afternoon end early morning time record company contact whatsoever label manager couple bottles wine couple joints band apparently spend long periods time working simple sounds particular guitar riff spent days air attempting create music variety household objects project revisited albums dark moon wish following early experiments called band developed son followed return son working title new album early works involved use piano wright fed single note speaker producing submarine like band tried repeatedly recreate sound studio unsuccessful demo version later echoes mixed exclusively combined guitar band able develop track experimenting accidental sound effects guitar pedal unlike new multi track capabilities studio enabled create track stages performing single final minute piece eventually entire second album days developed bassline created feeding output bass line performed waters bass guitars old strings days going cut little pieces line recorded double speed falsetto voice normal speed recorded band concert commitments production spread considerable period time band recorded half april half played returning record end month split time sessions abbey road rehearsals concerts london lancaster edinburgh glasgow nottingham june july spent mainly performing venues europe august spent far east australia september europe october november period group produced relics compilation album earlier works mix album prepared september remains unreleased composition tracks possess variety moods generally considered cohesive predecessor largely instrumental days followed winds distinguished quiet acoustic love songs catalogue songs sound effects anticipating technique later wish title winds inspired games waters mason wives played south france song fearless employs field recordings choir singing walk anthem brings song end heavily fade san contrast jazz pop song shuffle tempo composed waters increasingly deployed style breezy songwriting song inspired band trip south france displayed sense humour pseudo blues novelty track featuring dog looking music tops polls worst song created band later use animal sounds animals final song album minute echoes performed return son april band spent months track studios morgan air abbey road track opens wright echoes recorded entirely completed july echoes gave compilation album echoes best pink floyd edited version title track included compilation multiple edits entire song cut running length piece seven minutes material composed creation song eventually brain damage dark moon echoes later featured entirety australian surf film crystal voyager filmed written narrated photographer filmmaker extended section slow motion footage shot inside waves packaging album title play words medal interfere art design group originally suggested close shot album cover photograph overruled band informed intercontinental telephone tour japan ear underwater cover image photographed image represents ear underwater collecting waves sound represented water expressed dissatisfaction cover claiming favourite album sleeve think better album cover colleague shares sentiments saying mess hated cover don think justice half hearted contains group photograph band floyd lapse reason release reception released october november later released remastered mobile fidelity sound lab april gold format album included box set shine november reached number publicity led weak sales chart position number november days released inch single fearless days echoes performed live parts bbc concert later certified gold riaa october double platinum march following added attention garnered band later successes united_states critical response release received generally positive reviews music critics rolling_stone wrote confirms lead guitarist emergence real shaping force group states accurately group growth track nme called exceptionally good album cited fearless best song said album got best circus called masterpiece group noting fearless fascinating praising echoes tone poem allows group members time stretch muscles reserved describing soundtrack non existent movie retrospective review robert_christgau said fairly good progression group previous work featured folk songs highlighted unique melodies lamented lyrics winds word cross filters critique echoes believed lyrics imitate universe beatles minutes music flows timeless calm similar bbc felt similar consistent version highlighted echoes said dominates entire work right progressive rock engaging intelligent compelling said echoes showed developed group coloring slow guitar deep studio sonic details truly baked notice appreciate writing allmusic editor stephen_thomas_erlewine called best album transitional years leading spends time sonic textures elongated compositions notably epic closer echoes noted uniform tone song structure wrote album significance group catalogue pink floyd masters texture greatest little details pointing way measured brilliance dark moon entire era track listing personnel credits adapted sleeve notes guitar lead vocals harmony vocals fearless bass days harmonica bass acoustic guitar lead vocals san hammond organ piano synthesizer lead vocals echoes organ uncredited drums percussion vocal phrase days additional personnel engineering engineering air design album outer sleeve photos band photo engineering air tony inner sleeve photos album cover design engineering dog vocals storm design album charts certifications
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