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Pink Floyd - Ummagumma CD (album) cover

UMMAGUMMA

Pink Floyd

 

Psychedelic/Space Rock

3.46 | 1931 ratings

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Zardoz
5 stars Probably the most 'difficult-to-get-into' Pink Floyd album. Double album, which contains a live disc (the first) and a studio disc.

The live part was erecorded in Birmingham and Manchester, at Mothers, in 1969. Here there are 4 tracks, 4 long tracks, and all of them are magnificent. The pinacle is probably the almost-13-minute version of A Saucerful Of Secrets...or maybe the 8,40 minutes of Careful With That Axe, Eugene. The two side-stoppers. There is, however, bad news : the sound is cheap, really cheap.

On the second disc are 5 (or 12, as you listen to it on vinyl or on CD) tracks, which are composed each one by a different member (except Waters who had two tracks) : Wright composed Sysyphus, divided in 4 parts, a long and sometimes terrifying suite - for me, the best part of the studio album ; Waters composed the song Grantchester Meadows (very folkish) and the craziness of Several Species Of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict (phew !), on which he sang both. And with a very special scottish accent on the second track ; Gilmour composed the three parts of the suite The Narrow Way (he sings the last part) ; Mason composed, with the help of his wife on flute, the drum solo of The Grand Vizier's Garden Party suite (on three parts).

It's hard to get into Ummagumma, especially the studio part, but in the end, i's probably the most intriguing and interesting Floyd album. In 1969, it won the Grand Prix de l'Académie du Disque Charles- Cros. A very important distinction. Among the other albums which receives this award, are Robert Wyatt's Rock Bottom and the first Peter Gabriel solo work. Great albums, as you can see.

Zardoz | 5/5 |

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