RELICS

Many compilation albums just feature songs from a groups past albums, but not Relics. 6 of the 11 songs here are either singles or never previously released and all of them are quite good. See Emily Play and Arnold Layne are the two "hit" singles with Syd Barrett in charge of the group. Interstellar Overdrive is a psych space rock instrumental again with Syd. Bike is the other Syd led song which is from the Piper album. Always a favorite with its "all hell breaks loose" ending.

Cirrus Minor and The Nile Song are two Roger Waters songs from the soundtrack More which itself is not likely to be an album that the casual Floyd fan has. The latter song rocks like no other in the Floyd canon.

Paintbox and Remember A Day are Richard Wright compositions and while the other Floyd's would later admit that they were not always the fairest when it comes to who got their stuff on the records and who got credit for the work done, these two songs show you what Wright brought to the table. Without him, PF is a very different band. As a side note, David Gilmour played and his band played an excellent live version of Remember a Day as a tribute to Mr. Wright after he passed away. One wonders why this song went silent for 40 years.

The studio version of Careful with that Axe Eugene is not as strong as the live version on Ummagumma but it is still quite good.

For me, the biggest surprise is the song Biding My Time, another Waters led song with that finishes with a couple of minutes instrumental section fronted by Richard Wright's trombone! A very good lost gem!!

The original artwork drawing is done by Nick Mason!

No fat on this album as its an excellent look at some hidden and forgotten gems of Pink Floyd. I would consider this essential!

4 stars.

4 stars.