RICHARD WRIGHT’S FORGOTTEN MASTERPIECE

A Story of Depression and Healing from Pink Floyd's Founding Member.

Richard Wright, 2006 © Deep Schism

Richard Wright was the least conversationally loud founding member of Pink Floyd, yet he served as the musical backbone of their iconic sound. Born in London in 1943, Wright met Roger Waters and Nick Mason while studying architecture at Regent Street Polytechnic. With Syd Barrett joining in 1965, Pink Floyd was born. Wright was the architect of the band's mystical atmosphere that echoed across vast soundscapes. Masterpieces like "The Great Gig in the Sky" and "Us and Them" on The Dark Side of the Moon bore his distinctive signature.

Pink Floyd 1967 © Michael Ochs

Yet Wright was more than just a keyboardist; he was also one of early Pink Floyd's most vital lead vocalists. On their 1968 album A Saucerful of Secrets, he sang lead on tracks like "See-Saw" and "Remember a Day." Those early recordings resurfaced decades later in compilations like The Early Years box set, reminding us once more of his vocal talent during that formative era.

Listen to Pink Floyd's Remember a Day

Musically, one of his greatest inspirations was the pioneer of German classical and electronic music, Karlheinz Stockhausen. Wright was deeply influenced by Stockhausen's experimental, collage-like compositions and sound manipulations. This influence became one of the fundamental pillars of Pink Floyd's experimental and atmospheric sound.

However, Wright's journey within Pink Floyd was far from a smooth ride. Tensions with Roger Waters gradually escalated, forcing Wright out of the band during the recording of The Wall in 1979. After years apart, he returned in 1987 and left a powerful mark on the band once again with 1994's The Division Bell. And the solo album he released right after that period remains a fascinating topic of discussion today: Broken China. In this piece, we take a closer look at this hidden gem tucked away in Pink Floyd’s vast discography.

Outside of Pink Floyd, Wright released two solo studio albums. The first was 1978's Wet Dream—a calm, jazz-tinged, atmospheric effort. It is pleasant and enjoyable, but lacks a deeper narrative underneath. In 1984, he released Identity under the project name Zee with Dave Harris. But his most emotionally revealing work came with 1996's Broken China. This album transformed Wright from a gifted keyboard player into a deeply personal songwriter.

Wet Dream Original Cover Art

The album tells the story of Millie—his partner at the time and later his wife—and her struggle with clinical depression and childhood trauma. Themes of childhood abuse, adolescent turmoil, adult nervous breakdowns, and ultimate healing through love… Wright translated the despair of witnessing his partner’s collapse directly into music. The album title's metaphor of "Broken China" illustrates the shattered state of the human psyche when dealing with trauma. This imagery seamlessly aligns with the cover art created by Storm Thorgerson, the visual brain behind Pink Floyd. The cover depicts a woman diving into water; whole as she enters, yet shattered like porcelain as she emerges. Thorgerson described this visual as "lyric and fluid fragility."

Broken China Cover Art

The album's biggest surprise lies in its guest vocalist. For its darkest moments, Wright handed the microphone over to Sinéad O'Connor. Her voice is an absolute force of nature. In "Reaching for the Rail," her whisper is so poignant it leaves a lump in your throat. Against the backdrop of distant party chatter, she conveys a soul on the brink of suicide with haunting realism. The lyrics were penned by Anthony Moore, who had previously worked on two Pink Floyd albums. Moore's writing draws not from Waters' political harshness, but from an introspective poetry.

The album consists of sixteen tracks divided into four distinct sections. It opens with "Breaking Water" and leads into "Night of a Thousand Furry Toys." It sounds like an innocent title at first glance. But listen closely: the chilling children's voices and tense synthesizers reveal the first seeds of trauma. Then the tension rises with "Reaching for the Rail." That is the moment you step directly into the heart of the album. O'Connor's whisper blends with jazz piano alongside the distant hum of a party, leaving the listener stranded in a sense of alienation. Then, the journey of recovery begins with "Sweet July" and "Breakthrough." "Breakthrough" in particular—featuring Wright's own vocals alongside O'Connor's luminous tone—serves as an anthem of redemption. When performed live by Wright during David Gilmour’s 2002 solo concert, this track created an unforgettable moment.

Broken China unfortunately never received the widespread attention it deserved; Wright himself acknowledged this in interviews, stating it was "an album that wouldn't chart." But time has a way of rewarding overlooked masterpieces. Today, this album is remembered as one of the most precious hidden treasures in the Pink Floyd universe.

The album sleeve bears a dedication: "To all those who are brave enough to face their past..." Richard Wright passed away in 2008, leaving behind the massive legacy of Pink Floyd and this quiet, deeply personal masterpiece. Broken China remains one of those rare albums reminding us that fragility is not a weakness, but perhaps our greatest strength.

Listen to Richard Wright's Album Broken China In Full

Album Details & Tracklist

Album Title: Broken China (1996, EMI)

Producers: Richard Wright, Anthony Moore

Cover Design: Storm Thorgerson

Tracklist: 1. Breaking Water / 2. Night of a Thousand Furry Toys / 3. Hidden Fear / 4. Runaway / 5. Unfair Ground / 6. Satellite / 7. Woman of Custom / 8. Interlude / 9. Black Cloud / 10. Far From The Harbour Wall / 11. Drowning / 12. Reaching For The Rail / 13. Blue Room in Venice / 14. Sweet July / 15. Along The Shoreline / 16. Breakthrough

Read Serkan's previous article "A Prophecy Born of Midnight: Nick Drake" exploring the tragic parallels between music recluses Nick Drake and Syd Barrett.

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Serkan Firtina
Contributor, BritRock Heaven