Pink Floyd : A Momentary Lapse Of Reason A4/B3

This original pressing from '87 is of a standard that is so difficult to find today and even 'Signs Of Life' plays with great clarity, a genuine rarity!  The vast majority is 'as new' and a full grading is given below.  The record is so clean and has hardly been played and this is borne out by the clarity of the audio and by the fact that there is barely any spindle wear.

The gatefold and lyric inner are in fantastic condition and it is clear they have hardly been handled.  A stunning album that has been incredibly well preserved over the years!

EMD 1003 // A - 4U / B - 3U

The audio on S1 is Near Mint (Mint- for the vast majority / track 1 intro Ex+)

The audio on S2 is Mint- (track 1 intro Ex-) 

The cover is Near Mint-

The lyric inner is Mint-

The labels are Mint

Visual grading

This is one of the finest examples I have ever seen and it appears to be barely played.  I can only detect a couple of very faint spindle traces on the S1 label and there is nothing on S2.  The vinyl itself is super clean and has no marking or scratching and only a small number of mega faint sleeve removal hairlines.  There is a very small amount of 'fading' on the first track of each side but it is very faint and very difficult to spot, it is totally insignificant and does not affect the superb audio in any way.  The vinyl retains a stunning glossy sheen and the run out grooves and labels are also in fantastic condition.

Play grading  

As any Floyd fan knows 'Signs Of Life' always has some 'background' on the original pressings and it is just a matter of how much.  I am delighted to say this is one of the most stunning versions I have ever heard! The quiet intro has only minimal static which is totally non-intrusive and there is no loud crackle at all.  As the music builds the audio is so 'clean' and the playback is just so good!  Gilmour's guitar also plays with wonderful clarity and with only a small number of light dust ticks this is a fine example of this opening track.  The intro is Ex+ with the remainder grading as Near Mint in my opinion.

'Learning To Fly' keeps up the standard and plays with stunning precision apart from one light click on the 'tips of my wings' line.  Otherwise it is perfect, no exaggeration, and the fade out could not play any better.  I will grade as Near Mint due to the one click but 99% is 'as new'!

'The Dogs Of War' intro is superb apart from a couple of very brief crackle sounds and as the vocal comes in the clarity and depth is exceptional.  From then it plays with great power and the 'high octane' guitar/sax section has no distortion which is a rarity and is a clear sign of a record that has hardly been played.  A stunning version that easily deserves a Mint- grade.

The segue into 'One Slip' is perfect and the quiet intro then has no 'background' of any kind.  Wow what clarity!  Thereafter it plays with unbelievable definition and with only one light click near the end this is as close to audio perfection that you will find.  As per the second track I will have to grade this as Near Mint but yes 99% again sounds like the record was only pressed yesterday!  Plus another immaculate fade out.

The classic 'On The Turning Away' plays with stunning clarity from the very first groove.  With only a couple of mega light static ticks this is finest intro I have heard in a long time.  As it continues you can only just sit back in disbelief!  The depth and sonic quality is just mesmeric!  Even the quiet mid section has no intrusive 'background'.  The 'choral' section is STUNNING and as for the powerful solo that follows?  What incredible power and definition and it can be turned up to loud without fear of any distortion.  This may well be the most impressive version I have ever heard, it is flawless and plays with such incredible precision.  A Mint version I am confident in saying.

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The opening few grooves on 'Yet Another Movie' do have a little static/crackle although it is certainly not loud and the music still plays very clearly.  It soon decreases to minor static and as the track 'gets going' the playback is superb with no 'background'.  From this point onwards the audio is Mint and again the depth of the sound is awesome!  The production values on this album are 'high end' in my opinion and when you find a clean vinyl like this the clarity, depth and power really stand out.  Aside from a little interference on the intro which fortunately does not last long the playback cannot be faulted.  Even the closing section 'Round And Around' plays with superb clarity and not a single click or pop.

'A New Machine Part 1' is another track that is so often affected by static or crackle but this is quite simply an amazing version!  There is no interference and apart from a small number of mega light dust ticks the audio could hardly be any better.  This is Mint- and you can't often say that about this track!

'Terminal Frost' is stunning from the very first note and continues to play in exactly the same way.  The clarity and power is breathtaking and the powerful middle section is perfect in every way.  It can be turned up loud and the emotive music blasts through the speakers with immense power and no distortion at all.  To the end it plays with sublime clarity.  A dynamic and super clean version that plays with Mint precision from start to finish.  A couple of light static ticks right at the end of the fade out but that does not affect the grading in my opinion.

'A New Machine Part 2' again plays with great clarity and there is no interference whatsoever.  With only a couple of dust ticks this is stunning.

The atmospheric guitar intro on 'Sorrow' is perfect with no 'background' and continues to play with real depth and quality.  This entire intro is beautifully 'clean' and as the percussion comes in the clarity and depth remains.  From then on the music is so deep and powerful and the closing solo is just stunning!  This really is a fantastic Mint version, it cannot be faulted in any way, and even the fade out is super clean.

In summary this early pressing plays with a quality that is rarely found today.  I keep on about clarity and depth but that is how any vinyl should be judged of course and it is here in abundance!  For some reason this album often plays with static/crackle but there is very little here and the playback overall is absolutely stunning.  Yes a couple of light clicks on S1 and a little 'background' at the start of S2 but the vast majority of this record is 'as new' and that is my honest assessment.  I have listened to every second as I always do and there is quite simply not in my interests to over-grade any track.  The gatefold is also in lovely condition as is the lyric inner and any collector would be very impressed with this album.

The Gatefold

This is one of the strongest and most impressive covers I have ever seen with hardly any shelf wear.  The top and bottom edges are so clean with only a couple of small 'rubs' and the wide spine is in superb condition with no wear at all.  The corners, as can be seen, have barely any rubbing and the opening edge has no handling wear either.  The front cover is beautifully clean with no marking or scratching and the back cover is equally as pristine.  Not only that but the inside of the gatefold is immaculate, 'as new' in fact.  It's also worth noting that the cover remains very strong and robust and it's obvious it has been hardly handled down the years.  This is such a well preserved example and it would be difficult to find better.

The Lyric Inner

This is in lovely condition with only a couple of mega tiny edge rubs and there are no side splits or creasing at all.

The Labels

They are in fantastic order and all I can detect is one mega tiny barely visible spindle trace on each side.  Stunning!

Play tested on my Pro-Ject Essential III Turntable / B&W 684 Speakers

This record has been professionally cleaned on a Pro-Ject VC-S machine

EMD 1003 // A - 4U / B - 3U

I grade according to "Record Collector" guidelines.

Any questions please feel free to ask

Please pay within 4 days of auction end

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