Pink Floyd
Animals (2018 Remix)
Parlophone (available now)
10/10
A welcome reimagining of a classic album
To say that this album has been long-awaited by Floyd fans worldwide would be an understatement. Producer James Guthrie – longtime Floyd auxiliary – undertook the remix of the band’s 1977 album Animals almost five years ago, but the ongoing hostility between Gilmour and Waters has delayed the release until now as they couldn’t agree on the liner notes. But, infighting aside, it was definitely worth the wait.
As a little bit of historical context, was released at a time when punk-rock was, the music was in direct contrast to the album’s more reflective predecessor,. For the remix, Guthrie has employed modern-day studio magic to produce a more mature and dynamically enhanced reading and definitely not just a quick wash and brush-up. Nick Mason’s drums possess added power and Gilmour’s guitar snarls and spits out of the speakers like a clowder of angry cats. Rick Wright’s keyboards enjoy more prominence and, on occasion, a subterranean, foundation-shaking bass.
