Gone are the days when someone could admit nto early crying after watching an advert. The last chance to do so was when John Lewis exiled a man to the Moon. No more shall we cry at the wheels of capitalism, running through our wallets like a dog on ice. But David Gilmour, the Pink Floyd guitarist turned frontman, was totally moved by a BT advert. The phone service provider had sampled Stephen Hawking and seemingly crawled its way into the singer’s mind. There it was lodged, gestating and partly influencing Keep Talking. Of all the internet service providers, it is only fair BT is the one to sing of, although even their connection can leave something to be desired. Nonetheless, it was a choice Gilmour was seemingly set on including when it came time to write The Division Bell. Experimentation is still the leading purpose of studio work from Gilmour at this point in Pink Floyd’s lifespan, and you can hear that come to life on Keep Talking.
He, along with Polly Samson and Richard Wright, try to haul Keep Talking into a spot worthy of the Pink Floyd brand. No wonder the group dissolved after this. Not because the song is below the bar of quality, but because the stress Gilmour and the remaining members were under to live up to this decades-old expectation gets tougher the more it lasts. Few bands can maintain this quality for so long. Keep Talking is one of the better songs featured on The Division Bell, a B-side piece with some slightly spaced-out effects. A very groovy effort from Gilmour and the band, with that instrumental flicker the lead reason to listen. A voice sample of Stephen Hawking helps the song along. If the group were trying to distance themselves from the space-age rock and roll The Dark Side of the Moon made peace with, then they’re not doing a great job of it. Questioning backing vocals and the cool guitar riff are core to the quality of Keep Talking.
It’s a chance for Gilmour to amplify a constant message which features in his work away from Roger Waters. Though it may linger on the pair’s relationship with one another, Keep Talking feels like it has other, heavier influences than an ex-bandmate working on projects elsewhere. Gilmour merely hopes we keep talking. It is not a direct write-up of his relationship with Waters, just a note on communication in a colder world. Cold it may have been back then, it’s freezing now. Keep Talking is not a failure because of this, of course. A nice and drifting instrumental song which seems to be in search of that missing link between communication and cutting someone off. We all have our reasons, but Keep Talking implores us to reopen the conversation with those we are opposed to.
Gilmour uses the track as an opportunity to preach, and he at least backs himself with strong instrumental work. Both Wright and drummer Nick Mason are well-placed, adding instrumental layers crucial to having Gilmour’s guitar solos sound effective. They always did, but what made them magical and often crucial, was the wordplay. Keep Talking doesn’t quite have that. Its effectiveness is found in the instrumental movement and message at the heart of it. Where the context may be a tad strange, it’s nice to hear Gilmour can still be influenced by the need for connection. It’s a hearty message with the fears of isolation played out well by Pink Floyd here. The Division Bell has plenty of these moments, songs which were undersold at the time because they lacked Waters but are, in fact, better than much of his post-Animals output.
I welcomed the Division Bell and the Momentary Lapse of Reason. In my opinion they are both Pink Floyd back on its feet and moving forward. I think the song “On The Turning Away” “Sorrow”, ” High Hopes” is as good as any other great Pink Floyd song. To me, those albums prove beyond a doubt that although Roger Waters was a great contributor and major influence on all of the other Pink Floyd albums, they were able to do well without him. He was not critical to have in the band to make great songs. Richard Wright (RIP) was still at his best as was Nick Mason ! They pulled it off without Roger, and they did a good job, and more than that, it was new Pink Floyd music. How I wish we could relive those days again. I have been listening to Pink Floyd since is was in my early teens. I have been blessed to have been able to see them In concert going back for decades. It’s been a good run.
Raul in Los Angeles.
“Keep Talking” is in a class by itself that is unique in that it falls into the rare category of a musical style that can be summed up in the Hebrew word “shigionoth” (Habakkuk 3:1) which was interpreted by mystics as employing an instrument that induces meditation.
The song, “The Hero’s Return” from “The Final Cut” album included a guitar riff that had the effect of freeing the intellect from limitations placed upon it from external pressures.
B-side? It was the lead single from the Division Bell. Probably the most fitting to get casual fans excited about the new album. Having seen the tour and hearing subsequent live recordings, it’s not a particularly good song live but the album version is a classic. I actually think the Division Bell is my favorite Floyd album. Yes, The Wall and Dark Side and Wish You Were here are technically and conceptually better but the Division Bell is the most enjoyable listen.