For those unaware, originally released in 1987, A Momentary Lapse Of Reason was updated and remixed by David Gilmour and Andy Jackson for The Later Years Box Set.

By returning to some of Richard Wright’s original keyboard parts and by re-recording new drum tracks with Nick Mason, producers David Gilmour and Bob Ezrin have restored the creative balance between the three Pink Floyd members.

Furthermore, the lush front cover art now features an alternative photograph from the original album cover photoshoot.

This Deluxe CD/DVD Box was remixed in 2019 from the original master tapes and includes bonus material and 5.1 Surround Sound Audio, along with a 40-page booklet and envelope containing 6 exclusive stickers designed by Peter Curzon from StormStudios.

Although originally regarded as a faux Pink Floyd album because Roger Waters had left (and, truly, David Gilmour started the album as a solo release initially), A Momentary Lapse Of Reason eschews Waters’ often personalized lyrics (although there is darkness here) in favor of topics that the band has either visited before or concerns that Gilmour and his lyricists) were focused on.

Musically, it’s an inventive album but what it does lack is Waters’ biting cynicism and personal emotional investment in a narrative. That doesn’t make it a bad album. In fact, it’s an exceptionally good album musically and the lyrics are pretty good too overall even if they aren’t by Roger Waters.

This remixed and updated version of the album incorporates more Rick Wright (always a good thing) and Nick Mason re-recording the drum parts (less electronic drums) giving the album a much more orangix sound.

So yes, for all your enthusiasts out there wondering, it does indeed change the feel of the album and some of the remixes are notably different in a good way; some less so, of course. As noted in the description, this was original released as part of The Later Years box-set so it’s nice to see this get a stand alone release now for fans.

Stand outs for me are Learning to Fly, which uses Gilmour’s new found fascination with flying a plane as a thoughtful metaphor on humanity and the lyrics by progressive rock band Slapp Happy’s Anthony Moore are actually quite brilliant, if truth be told.

Moore also turns in two other lyrics on The Dogs of War - a much derided and lyrically heavy handed song that still manages to work due to the production and music - and the compassionate On the Turning Away - something at the time that I couldn’t quite imagine Waters writing!

Indeed, One Slip features a much derided (unnecessarily I should add, although the lyrics are noticeably vague and do not resolve well, and yet they do work within the context of the song) but competent lyric by Gilmour and music by Roxy Music and 801’s Phil Manzanera and Gilmour.

In closing, A New Machine (Parts 1 & 2) and also Another Movie may not match the lyrical highs of Waters, but they fit the musical tone overall, no question. In fact, in my humble opinion, Sorrow could be seen as a message to Roger Waters and is one of Gilmour’s more accomplished lyrics.

Oh, and the instrumentals on the album more than hold their own and, if you will pardon me this folly, divorced of, well, the acrimony of the band’s divorce, overall (whether it be in its original form or this remixed and updated version) it is a mighty fine album.

As for this new box-set, as a whole, it includes a rather lovely, expansive and uber colorful 40-page booklet, some stickers (in an envelope) and a CD and DVD (or Blu-Ray, as it depends on which version you purchase) with the latter also featuring the 5.1 lossless remix of the album as well as three concert screen films, an interview about the album cover with Gilmour himself and Storm Thorgerson, and three wondrous, thoroughly engrossing live audio tracks from 1987 in Atlanta along with three music videos.

Thus, for those who believe that Pink Floyd ended when Roger Waters left the band and Gilmour resumed it, there will be no interest in this album. For the Gilmour-led years (as opposed to the Barrett or Waters years), this will be essential (although, sure, the Gilmour years had their flaws, yes, but there was plenty of good to great music made).

CD:
1. Signs Of Life
2. Learning To Fly
3. The Dogs Of War
4. One Slip
5. On The Turning Away
6. Yet Another Movie
7. Round And Around
8. A New Machine Part 1
9. Terminal Frost
10. A New Machine Part 2
11. Sorrow

Bonus Material:
• DVD
• Audio-Visual
Music Videos (Stereo PCM, 48/24)
• Learning To Fly
• Album cover photo shoot 1987
• Learning To Fly (alternate version)

Concert screen films 1987 (Stereo PCM, 96/24)
• Signs of Life
• Learning To Fly
• The Dogs Of War

Documentary (Stereo PCM 48/24):
• David Gilmour & Storm Thorgerson – interview
Re: A Momentary Lapse Of Reason Album Cover Photo Shoot

Audio only (Stereo PCM, 96/24):
• The Dogs Of War (live, Atlanta 1987)
• On The Turning Away (live, Atlanta 1987)
• Run Like Hell (live, Atlanta 1987)

• Surround Sound Audio A Momentary Lapse of Reason (Remixed & Updated)
• Stereo PCM (48/16)
• 5.1 Dolby Digital (48/16)
• 5.1 dts (48/16)