THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN

In the overall excellence of Pink Floyd's catalougue, their earliest work is quite often grossly overlooked. Perhaps more than Obscured by Clouds, Meddle, or Atom Heart Mothe, Piper At The Gates of Dawn seems to be the prime example of this phenomenon. Not without is major quirks, i first came across this album a few months after truely apreciating Dark Side for the masterpiece it was. I listened to it in the way i always use to listen to albums, i skimed until i heard something that interested me. As i now know with most Prog/psych/avant music this is a horrible way to approach an album. So Piper sat and collected dust for about a year until i returned to it as a much more matured listener. As i sat and listened to it, i realized the wierd beauty of it and suddenly appreciated that which i had loathed only a few months prior. Syd Barrett's strange almost goofy English twang is a remarkable difference from Gilmour's and Waters' usual Americanized singing voice that i enjoyed thoroughly. The musicianship here is a good as it will be on any Floyd album, with ferocious drumming from Nick Mason, great keyboard solos from Rick Wright and very good playing from Barrett and Water's as well. Astonomy Domine and Interstellar Overdrive shine as the best songs in a group with a few "joke" songs, both hint at the expierimental avant-prog Floyd would be come famous for. Although not as hard-hitting as the efforts following the departure of Barrett and the addition of Gilmour, this is a great album for every prog fan, and and essential for all Floydians.