Barring The Beatles, Pink Floyd are arguably one of the most covered bands in the world, their range of material ranging from the gentle to the bombastic. The good people at Pale Wizard Records wanted to pay their own tribute to this most creative and English band on the half-century anniversary of the truly seminal Wish You Were Here, bringing a number of their artists together to cover the opus. Doubtless an absolute minefield to approach such a venerated classic, the results are nothing short of incendiary.
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here – 50 Years Later – Various Artists
Release Date: 12 September 2025
Words: Paul Monkhouse
Opening impressively with Hippie Death Cult’s take on Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 1 To 5), the band give it a fractured, distorted feel until the lush and soulful section comes in, the whole imbued with an otherworldly feel.
Taking a different approach altogether, Mos Generator bring a suitably grinding menace and cyberpunk aesthetic to Welcome To The Machine, the sonic waves perfectly matching the song’s dark tone.
Previously covered by Foo Fighters for the Mission Impossible 2 soundtrack, Duskwood add a wonderfully heavy groove to their ballsy Have A Cigar, the rollicking attack at the end breathless.
Taking the biggest left turn on the album, though, High Desert Queen turn the delicate Wish You Were Here into something with hobnail boots and the swirling feel bands like Kyuss have built their career on. Dusty and full of a brutal, stark beauty, the guitars are distorted rather than plaintive.
Closing the original set, Shine On You Crazy Diamond (Parts 6 to 9) is given a powerful makeover by Sergeant Thunderfoot, stamping their own identity onto the seminal number.
Throwing in two bonus tracks in the shape of Urzah’s fantastically apt loud and abrasive Fearless and a muscular take on Time by Firegarden, the whole is a treat that, whilst never replacing the untouchable heights of the originals, certainly complements them.
Superb covers, great bands and a project that more than fulfils the original intent. This is a covers album that is more than worthy of a place in anyone’s collection.
Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here: 50 Years Later is released 12 September 12 2025 and will be available on CD, limited edition vinyl and all major streaming platforms. For more details, visit palewizard.bigcartel.com.
