Anniversary Special: The Dark Side of the Moon

Prepare for a week of Floydian analysis as a prog masterwork turns 40

by TheartsdeskWednesday, 20 February 2013

The sound of a heartbeat. A metronomic ticking. Two men confessing that they’re mad (even if they’re not mad) as a cash register chings. Another man’s manic laughter. A harsh industrial grinding noise. Screams. And then some rock music, Olympian in its distance and instantly cinematic, but with a hint of the blues…

If you don’t know by now you’re listening to “Speak to Me” and the start of “Breathe,” the combined sound collage/song that kicks off The Dark Side of the Moon, you’ve had your head under the sand for 40 years. Unless, of course, British prog rock was never your cup of patchouli oil.

To celebrate the anniversary of the legendary Pink Floyd album, which was released on 1 March 1973, theartsdesk will present a week-long symposium of features, though not all of them will regard the 50 million-selling opus as a sacred cow. It all begins on Sunday, 24 February. You’ll wish you were here.

Read about The Dark Side of the Moon on theartsdesk

Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here, BBC Four

Explore topics

Share this article

The future of Arts Journalism

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

more New music

Albums of the Year 2024: Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso - Baño María Art that creates it's own (deliriously wild) lane

Albums of the Year 2024: Kneecap - Fine Art The music sector finely emerges from the long shadow of Covid with a bumper year

Albums of the Year 2024: Kenny Barron - Beyond This Place Consistently glorious - nothing less than a very great album

Music Reissues Weekly: Vanilla Fudge - Where Is My Mind The ATCO Recordings 1967-1969 A wild ride with the ‘You Keep me Hanging on’ hitmakers

Albums of the Year 2024: Meemo Comma - Decimation of I A concept album from the perspective of an infected planet provides succour and sustenance

Albums of the Year 2024: Amelia Coburn - Between the Moon and the Milkman An array of albums that have set 2024 alight for this writer

Album: Ajukaja & Mart Avi - Death of Music Estonian electronica duo enter a domain where nothing is explicit

Jesus & Mary Chain, O2 Institute, Birmingham - Reid Brothers refuse to join the heritage industry Noise veterans deck the halls with feedback and dry ice

Album: Ben Folds - Sleigher Folds’ nuanced originals are much better than the by-numbers seasonal covers

Vampire Weekend, OVO Hydro, Glasgow review - a mixture of brilliance and self-indulgence The New Yorkers offered dancers, covers and great songs in a lengthy set

Julia Holter, Islington Assembly Hall review - shelter from the storm in experimental delight A night of old and new from a leftfield virtuoso

Music Reissues Weekly: John Leyton - Lone Rider The Holloway Road Sessions 1960-1962 ‘Johnny Remember Me’, Joe Meek and the evolution of British pop

Follow @theartsdesk