Controversial artist Roger Waters is back with a controversial new release: a re-recording of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon, made without the involvement of any of the other members of Pink Floyd. Listen to The Dark Side of the Moon Redux below via Apple Music or Spotify.
Beyond giving Waters the opportunity to one-up his estranged bandmates, re-recording one of the most famous albums of all time appeared to give the artist a chance to update its message for modern times, with a matured perspective. “The original Dark Side of the Moon feels in some ways like the lament of an elder being on the human condition,” Waters said in a statement. “But Dave [Gilmour], Rick [Wright], Nick [Mason], and I were so young when we made it, and when you look at the world around us, clearly the message hasn’t stuck. That’s why I started to consider what the wisdom of an 80-year-old could bring to a reimagined version.”
That said, the project isn’t just a faithful rendition of the original music, a-la Taylor Swift’s re-do of her discography. Waters significantly changes the songs; “Us and Them” is stripped down to little more than his voice, while “Money” is slowed down and delivered in a much lower register than the original recording. Waters produced the project alongside Gus Seyffert, while Seyffert and musicians Joey Waronker, Jonathan Wilson, Johnny Shepherd, and Jon Carin act as his backing band.
Waters will perform the “redux” live at London’s Palladium on October 8th and 9th before heading out on a winter tour across South and Central America. Tickets to all of his upcoming dates are on sale here.
The Dark Side of the Moon Redux comes in a period of increased scrutiny toward Waters. Longstanding accusations of antisemitism from the infamously outspoken artist were cemented by a recent documentary about the artist in which two of his former collaborators, who are Jewish, detailed personal interactions with Waters that were… problematic, to say the least. David Gilmour even promoted the video, entitled The Dark Side of Roger Waters, on social media.
The Dark Side of the Moon Redux Artwork:
The Dark Side of the Moon Redux Tracklist:
01. Speak to Me
02. Breathe
03. On the Run
04. Time
05. Great Gig in the Sky
06. Money
07. Us and Them
08. Any Colour You Like
09. Brain Damage
10. Eclipse
