Pink Floyd - Learning to Fly
What happens when you’re a 1960s space rocker working in the shimmering plastic 1980s? You cut a hit track about “flying” (heh) with a video starring a Native American shaman (double heh) and juice it up with a killer synth riff (timely!) and lyrics by minimalist composer Anthony Moore (classy). THAT’S what you fucking do. If you’re David Gilmour, that is.
Learning to Fly is a melange of reverbed-out digi-toms, bluesy leads, and a full chorus of backup soul singers. You can practically see Gilmour guitar-facing his way through the song. Full bore 80s action, yes, HOWEVER: there’s passion here. And space. And a catchy synth riff that transmits more energy and style in two notes than most riffs do for an entire song. If this is dad rock, let me have it. I need a break from all this Oneohtrix Point Never, anyway.
