Think Floyd, The Lights, Andover 9 November 2013 JOHN Peel once described listening to Pink Floyd as like hearing the “cries of dying galaxies lost in sheer corridors of time and space”.

It earned him a place in Private Eye’s Pseuds Corner. However, the thing is, I know what he means.

If you were one of those who couldn’t resist striding on to the dance floor the moment you recognised the first few bars of Staying Alive or I Will Survive then Pink Floyd’s music was never going to be particularly for you.

Somehow it was more reflective.

It demanded you listened to it, took it in and absorbed it.

The Floyd were more about creating atmosphere and imagery through heaping layers and layers of sound on top of each other, taking the listener on a journey down lost corridors of time and space.

Oops there I go, now I’ll be next for the Pseuds Corner.

Pink Floyd is, probably, no more.

Unless their former colleague, Roger Waters, ever joins the remaining two, David Gilmour and Nick Mason, for another charitybased reunion.

So in order for a new generation to hear the ‘crying of dying galaxies we are reliant on the tribute bands, of which there are many.

One of the best, Think Floyd, came to Andover last week to play over two hours of Pink Floyd to a large and appreciative audience.

The band gave us a wonderful range of Floydian treats drawn from all eras of their development.

They started with What Do You Want From Me taken from the final studio album, The Division Bell, and followed this with See Emily Play, the second single released in 1967. Immediately it was plain that this was going to be a great evening.

The thing about Think Floyd is they are not afraid to put their own stamp on the music. True, they will play these classics as accurately as the average punter will demand, but along the way they will also allow themselves to express their own personalities through the music, that way the music stays fresh and vibrant.

Some tribute bands will so slavishly present a note for note performance that actually you may as well stay at home and play a live album really loud.

The centrepiece of the night was a complete performance of the Dark Side of the Moon suite, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

Think Floyd was joined by a saxophonist and girl singer for the crucial parts of Dark Side and really gave the performance genuine authenticity.

The second half opened with Shine on You Crazy Diamond, the homage to Syd Barrett, and also included Dogs, Wish You Were Here and Run Like Hell.

For me the greatest moment came when they played a medley of Green is the Colour/Careful With That Axe Eugene.

Pink Floyd played this little combination often in a period from 1969 until 1972.

So it was great to hear a tribute band not being afraid of getting away from tried and tested favourites and pushing the boundaries by including this gem.

The encores were Happiest Days of Our Lives and Another Brick in the Wall pt2, during which the audience sang a verse on their own, a sort of sing-a-long-a-Floyd session.

Finally they closed with the traditional ending, Comfortably Numb, complete with mirror ball.

JOHN BAXTER