THE MADCAP LAUGHS

"The Madcap Laughs" is the first of two solo albums made by the now deceased Pink Floyd founder, Syd Barret. The news of Syd Barret's death brought along much sorrow to many people, but it also was a time of reflection as people all over the world listened to Pink Floyd in honour of Syd. In Australia Pink Floyd was played on the radio for the first time in many years. Pink Floyd sales also increased as people rushed to get a piece of Pink Floyd and Syd Barret. For me, I began to listen to Syd's solo albums and in particular The Madcap Laughs which impresses me at the fact that the simplicity of the music is strangely effective. It seems to me that Syd was able to just sit down and write lyrics on a whim, all the lyrics flow for a little while before Syd purposely brakes the pattern. Recorded after Syd went crazy from LSD, "The Madcap Laughs" is, to me is the man trying to reach out to his friends in Pink Floyd.

This period was a difficult time for all involved and the members of Pink Floyd wrote many tributes to Syd Barret which are a testament to their lost friend. "The Madcap Laughs" is an enjoyable album and is a basically a toned down version of 'Piper at the Gates of Dawn.' It retains the Syd Barret style of song writing, but seems to lose much of the space-rock moods reminiscent of early Pink Floyd. Best songs include "Terrapin", "Dark Globe" (a song for Syd's friends in Pink Floyd)," Octopus" and "Here I Go" all of which contain some Pink Floydish elements. The remaster of "The Madcap Laughs" comes with several 'takes' of songs as Syd was unable to play a song twice in the same way which made the album difficult to record.

Terrapin (4/5) 2. No Good Trying (3/5) 3. Love You (2.5/5) 4. No Man's Land (3/5) 5. Dark Globe (4/5) 6. Here I Go (3/5) 7. Octopus (4.5/5) 8. Golden Hair (2.5/5) 9. Long Gone (3/5) 10. She Took a Long Cold Look (2.5/5) 11. Feel (3/5) 12. If it's in You (3/5) 13. Late Night (3/5) Total = 41 divided by 13 number of songs) = 3.15 = 3 stars Good, but non-essential

In summary, "The Madcap Laughs" is a good album and give an insight into the mind of Syd Barret. I'd recommend "The Madcap Laughs" to all Pink Floyd fans, particularly fans of the band's earlier works like 'Piper at the Gates of Dawn.'