THE MADCAP LAUGHS

After being considered too unreliable to remain a part of the Floyd, Barrett retreated from the spotlights and gradually alienated from the world around him. Considered as a genius by some or as an annoying lunatic by others, also his debut album can be looked upon from two different angles.

You can seek and find all confirmation you want in order to prove that Barrett was a hopeless heap of misery, writing unfocussed psychedelic ramblings and putting in a lousy performance while recording them. Sometimes that's also what I hear when listening to this album. There are plenty of moments where Barrett is completely out of tune, where his playing is sloppy, and the song-writing average at best.

But there's an alternative approach. When you look through the apparent lack of focus, you'll find the unpolished imagination and raw emotion of this breakable man and his bare guitar sound. Freed from the psychedelic flower-pop that somehow spoilt the Piper album for me, we hear a pure and delicate testimony of the man's genius.

The opener in particular is amazing, so seemingly obvious yet so subtle and inimitable Barrett. It's consists of apparently thoughtless guitar strumming and hazy unfocussed vocals but the effect is so gripping and unique. On No Good Trying and No Man's Land, Barrett is accompanied by a number of Canterbury friends that give the songs a fitting arrangement. But also the sparse Octopus is great. Around minute 2, there's a good example of Barrett's unique approach to guitar strumming, with that rhythmical pulse known from Instellar Overdrive that was so influential on space-rock and kraut. Other personal favs are Golden Hair, Long Gone and Late Night.

The album might have been better if the guest musicians had been given more room to pursue the instrumental themes here a bit further. But much of the charm of this album comes from its unfinished imperfection and the raw, unpolished feel. As if it was work in progress. Unfortunately things turned out to be at a dead-end for Barrett. 3.5 stars