Forty-plus musicians, all hailing from Baltimore, come together on this extremely interesting interpretation of Pink Floyd's 1973 classic
Dark Side Of The Moon. Far from a standard cover album, Mobtown Moon put a unique spin on this seminal prog-rock disc, adding hip-hop, gospel, jazz and, even more unusually, opera. A wide array of guest vocalists, all with their own distinct delivery, make this even more interesting, if that's possible.
The album begins with the sounds of Baltimore, from the noises of the industrial areas to schoolkids, before dual vocals and a wealth of instruments reinvent Pink Floyd's originals. On “On The Run,” known to most as a synth tune, Mobtown Moon turns it into a banjo and pedal steel duo, while on “The Great Gig In The Sky,” the piano intro is reborn with violins, violas and cellos. Elsewhere, things get even more eclectic with the blues influence of “Money,” while “Brain Damage” gets reworked into a gospel affair. Later on, the large ensemble ends the listen with an enthusiastic and funk-driven version of “Eclipse.”
This had to have been a tricky task for Mobtown Moon. An album so revered as this reinterpreted in a clumsy or too esoteric way could really alienate potential listeners. Hell, it might even get some ardent fans of the original upset. Fortunately, the endeavor pays homage to the legacy of Dark Side while still making its mark as an entirely different band, and seeing as how it came out 40 years after the original, it's a well-timed tribute.
Masterminds Sandy Asirvatham and Ellen Cherry did a fantastic job of maintaining the artistic genius of Dark Side Of The Moon and certainly won't be insulting anyone in the Pink Floyd camp with their rendition.