By [Your Name/Audio Enthusiast]
In the heated debates surrounding Pink Floyd’s discography, A Momentary Lapse of Reason (1987) often sits in a strange purgatory. Die-hard purists argue it lacks the conceptual weight of The Wall or the organic flow of Wish You Were Here. But if you strip away the politics of the Roger Waters departure and focus strictly on the production, you find an album that was built for the digital age.
Recently, high-resolution circulating versions—specifically labeled as "Extra Quality FLAC" (often referring to 24-bit/96kHz or higher sources)—have begun to circulate among collectors. Listening to this album in this format isn't just nostalgia; it is a forensic rediscovery of a production masterpiece.
Here is why the "Extra Quality" FLAC version of A Momentary Lapse of Reason deserves a spot on your reference playlist. pink floyd a momentary lapse of reason flac extra quality
If you are hunting for this specific version, look for the following specifications to ensure you are getting the "Extra Quality" experience:
If you are searching for "extra quality," you must specifically seek the 2019 Remix (included in The Later Years box set). David Gilmour and Andy Jackson went back to the original multitracks to fix the 80s production sins.
When you download or stream the 2019 Remix in FLAC Extra Quality, you are not listening to a 1987 album anymore. You are listening to a 2020s masterpiece hidden in a 1987 time capsule. Rediscovering the Shine: Why "A Momentary Lapse of
The 1987 mix has a “wall of reverb.” In 24/96 FLAC:
| Version | Resolution | Key Characteristics | |---------|------------|----------------------| | 1987 CD master | 16/44.1 | Harsh high end, heavy compression, thin drums | | 1997 remaster (Oh By The Way) | 16/44.1 | Slightly smoother, but still dated digital artifacts | | 2019 remix (The Later Years) | 24/96 FLAC, also 16/44.1 FLAC | Stripped reverb, re-recorded drums (Nick Mason), new bass parts, wider soundstage |
Recommendation for “extra quality”: The 2019 remix in 24-bit/96kHz FLAC is the definitive version. The 1987 FLAC (16/44.1) is faithful to the original but retains its flaws. Bit Depth: 24-bit (Essential for removing the "grain"
The true test of any audio file is the track "Sorrow." This is a song built on a long, slow build-up and a crushing wall of guitar sound.
The "Extra Quality" designation usually implies a high dynamic range score (DR). In this version, the quiet, atmospheric intro is truly quiet. You have to turn your volume knob up. When David Gilmour’s guitar solo finally screams in, the volume jump is massive and impactful. This contrast—the difference between the whisper and the scream—is the definition of high fidelity, and it is the primary reason to hunt down this specific FLAC version.
