VARIOUS ARTISTS – Animals Reimagined – A Tribute to Pink Floyd

What we have here is a rather interesting tribute record where such legendary figures and renowned musicians as Rick Wakeman, Martin Barre, Graham Bonnet, Jordan Rudess, Vinnie Moore, Arthur Brown, James LaBrie, Jon Anderson, and Carmine Appice among others have interpreted and re-worked Pink Floyd’s "Animals" LP (1977) in a rather creative manner.

While "Animals" is arguably the bleakest output by Pink Floyd in terms of its atmosphere and aura (and I will forever hold that "The Final Cut" is the most bitter-sounding one), this inspired 2021 take on Floyd’s work retains the inherent melancholy of the original song material but also adds several colors and flavors to it that makes it feel less claustrophobic and oppressive somehow. The serious tone of "Animals" is intact here but this cast of skilled musicians has definitely left its own mark on these sparkling new renditions and managed to infuse the compositions with unique textures and an abundance of light and shade. Bonnet’s powerful and charismatic vocals suit "Dogs" superbly and the version of "Sheep" featuring psychedelic rock pioneer Arthur Brown is as memorable as it is inventive. Production-wise it works quite well too and the mix is a balanced one where each instrument is allowed space and prominence.

"Animals Reimagined – A Tribute To Pink Floyd" is not necessarily a must-have or an essential purchase as such, but it does a fantastic job at properly reimagining the classic album and adding a fresh perspective to it while also retaining the depth, substance, and emotive qualities of the original piece of work. This is no mere rehashing of old ideas and it is sufficiently different to the source material to stand out. It is certainly worth checking out if you are into Pink Floyd or simply fond of prog rock in general.

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