Few albums have cast a longer shadow than The Dark Side of the Moon.
Pink Floyd’s 1973 masterpiece is more than just a prog-rock landmark: it’s a cultural touchstone, marrying immaculate production, philosophical lyrics, and sonic innovation in a way that still feels timeless. But where do you go once you’ve worn out its grooves?
The beauty of Dark Side is that it opened up whole worlds of sound—conceptual albums that fused rock with classical ambition, electronic experimentation, and a taste for the transcendental. Alan Parsons, who engineered Dark Side, carried its legacy into his own band’s I Robot, an immersive exploration of humanity and technology. Meanwhile, Supertramp’s Crime of the Century blends prog rock’s grandiosity with a sharp pop sensibility, while Talk Talk’s Spirit of Eden strips rock to its atmospheric core, pointing toward post-rock and beyond.
Dark Side opened up whole new worlds of sound
This list picks 11 albums that share some of Dark Side’s DNA—whether in their ambition, production wizardry, or emotional scope—but each offers a fresh perspective. From cosmic synth odysseys to hushed minimalism, these are the perfect next steps for anyone chasing that same mix of wonder, mystery, and sheer sonic beauty.
1. Alan Parsons Project I Robot (1977)
Alan Parsons’ second album is a natural step for Dark Side fans. Parsons, who engineered Floyd’s masterpiece, applies the same studio wizardry to a sci-fi concept album exploring humanity and technology. The album blends lush orchestration, sleek synths, and rock grooves into a futuristic soundscape that’s both cerebral and accessible. Like Dark Side, it’s immersive, cinematic, and thematically cohesive—perfect for listeners craving ambitious production and expansive sonic architecture.
Start here: I Wouldn't Want To Be Like You
2. Pink Floyd Wish You Were Here (1975)
An obvious choice but, well, an *obvious* one. If The Dark Side of the Moon is Floyd’s cosmic breakthrough, its successor Wish You Were Here is its more intimate, emotional twin. Both share immaculate production, sweeping soundscapes, and conceptual unity, but Wish You Were Here deepens the melancholy—grieving Syd Barrett’s absence while critiquing the music industry. Tracks like 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' stretch time and space, offering the same mix of grandeur and poignancy that defines Dark Side.
Start here: 'Wish You Were Here'
3. Supertramp Crime of the Century (1974)
Balancing prog’s conceptual ambition with pop sensibility, Supertramp’s breakthrough offers pristine production, sharp songwriting, and dramatic flair. Like Dark Side, the album tackles themes of alienation and societal pressures while keeping melodies front and centre. Its mix of piano-driven ballads, saxophone flourishes, and climactic arrangements make it an emotionally gripping listen—grand in scale but accessible in execution.
Key track: School
4. The Moody Blues Days of Future Passed (1967)
The Moody Blues’ second albumis one of the earliest and boldest attempts to fuse rock with full orchestral arrangements, creating a landmark in the development of the concept album. Structured around the passage of a single day, it shifts seamlessly from dawn to night, weaving lush symphonic textures with psychedelic pop songwriting. That flowing design foreshadows Dark Side’s cohesion, while its emotional sweep is crowned by an enduring hit.
Key track: Nights in White Satin
5. Genesis Selling England by the Pound (1973)
Genesis’ Selling England by the Pound (1973) is one of prog’s most beloved records, blending English wit, pastoral imagery, and complex musicianship. Peter Gabriel’s theatrical vocals bring a vivid, almost cinematic quality to its surreal stories, while the band shifts effortlessly between delicate acoustic textures and dazzling instrumental climaxes.
Like Dark Side of the Moon, it marries virtuosity with accessibility, offering richly layered soundscapes that reward close listening but remain emotionally immediate. Both albums explore weighty themes—identity, alienation, and the search for meaning—through immersive musical journeys.
Key track: Firth of Fifth
6. Camel The Snow Goose (1975)
Camel’s The Snow Goose (1975) is a fully instrumental concept album inspired by Paul Gallico’s novella, unfolding as a wordless narrative rich in atmosphere. The band blends lyrical guitar lines, pastoral keyboards, and symphonic textures into a seamless, flowing whole that feels both cinematic and deeply emotive. Its understated beauty and melodic storytelling make it one of prog’s most accessible and poignant albums, perfectly suited for listeners drawn to Pink Floyd’s atmospheric, mood-driven side.
Key track: Rhayader
7. Talk Talk Spirit of Eden (1988)
It may hail from a wholly different musical era, but Spirit of Eden inhabits a similar emotional landscape to Dark Side. Talk Talk's fourth LP strips rock to its barest elements, unfolding in hushed, meditative tones that blend silence, texture, and emotion into a transcendent, almost spiritual experience. Mark Hollis’ fragile, intimate vocals float over sparse arrangements of organ, piano, strings, and guitar, creating a sense of vast space and emotional depth. Like Floyd’s masterpiece, it prioritises atmosphere and mood over conventional song structures, offering a deeply immersive and hauntingly beautiful journey.
Key track: I Believe in You
8. Tame Impala Lonerism (2012)
For a change of tack, a modern psychedelic masterpiece that will resonate with Floyd fans. Kevin Parker crafts a kaleidoscopic soundscape of swirling synths, phased guitars, and ethereal, dreamy vocals, creating a sense of expansive, introspective space. The album explores themes of loneliness, isolation, and self-reflection, echoing the emotional depth and atmospheric immersion of Floyd’s classic. With a perfect balance of retro influences and fresh, contemporary production, Lonerism feels timeless and deeply engaging, a modern spiritual cousin to Dark Side.
Key track: Mind Mischief
9. Brian Eno Ambient 1: Music for Airports (1978)
If Dark Side hinted at pure atmosphere, Eno’s ambient masterpiece delivers it. Music for Airports is sparse, slow, and meditative, designed as “sonic wallpaper” yet endlessly absorbing. Each piece unfolds patiently, with repeating piano figures and hovering synth textures creating a sense of timeless calm. It’s the logical endpoint of Floyd’s atmospheric experiments, turning sound itself into a space for reflection.
Key track: 1/1
10. Massive Attack Mezzanine (1998)
Massive Attack’s Mezzanine (1998) is a perfect listen for lovers of immersive, atmospheric music. A cornerstone of trip-hop, the album combines brooding electronic beats, textured samples, and live instrumentation to craft a dark, paranoid, and cinematic soundscape. Its tightly controlled, conceptual mood envelops the listener, much like Floyd’s masterpiece, rewarding repeated listening. Layered, hypnotic, and emotionally intense, Mezzanine demonstrates how modern electronic production can evoke the same immersive, transformative experience that made Dark Side timeless.
Key track: Teardrop
11. Vangelis Blade Runner Original Soundtrack (1982)
Vangelis’ Blade Runner soundtrack (1982) is a natural companion for fans of The Dark Side of the Moon. Though conceived as a film score, it functions as a fully immersive, standalone work, using dark, synthetic textures to conjure a futuristic, dystopian world. Its expansive soundscapes—combining haunting synth lines, deep drones, and occasional melodic flourishes—mirror the atmospheric richness and seamless flow that defined Floyd’s masterpiece.
Both albums share a high-concept approach: while Dark Side explores human psychology, mortality, and societal pressures, Blade Runner interrogates identity, memory, and technology through sound. Vangelis’ meticulous layering, attention to sonic detail, and dramatic pacing transform the score into a complete, hypnotic environment, much like Dark Side transforms an album into a journey of mood and emotion.
The result is music that is both beautiful and unsettling, dark yet deeply compelling—a conceptual, auditory world listeners can lose themselves in repeatedly.
Key track: Main Titles
