Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
A progressive rock track addressing apathy toward suffering, featuring David Gilmour's soaring vocals, atmospheric keyboards, and a signature guitar solo.
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Moods: melancholy, reflective, uplifting
Traditions: progressive rock
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 7/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.
Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.
Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.
Vocal style: dynamic vocals.
Where this sits in Pink Floyd's catalog
We have 64 songs from Pink Floyd in the library. Of those, 11 are rated Safe, 33 Moderate, and 20 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 7/10 sits above the artist average of 6.7, making it the #31 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
1987 context
Released in 1987. We have 205 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.5/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 1980s.
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Why this rating
We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-13. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "On the Turning Away"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "On the Turning Away" by Pink Floyd?
"On the Turning Away" by Pink Floyd rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 7/10, mild sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "On the Turning Away" — what is its dynamic range?
"On the Turning Away" has a dynamic range of 7/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.
Does "On the Turning Away" have sudden or surprising changes?
"On the Turning Away" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
What is "On the Turning Away" best for?
In our library "On the Turning Away" is recommended for: deep listening, emotional release, relaxation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "On the Turning Away" released?
"On the Turning Away" is from 1987, on the album "A Momentary Lapse Of Reason". It appears in our 1980s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "On the Turning Away"?
We tag "On the Turning Away" as melancholy, reflective, uplifting. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "On the Turning Away"?
The vocal style is dynamic vocals.
Should I listen to "On the Turning Away"?
"On the Turning Away" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.
Songs with the same DNA
layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
Safer alternatives with a similar feel
These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.
What this song means to people
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