ROGER WATERS & RON GEESIN: MUSIC FROM THE BODY (OST)

There are a lot of negative review of this album across the web. What the hells not to like here? This is an excellent album that sounds like a lost title from late 60s Floyd, arguably the most "progressive" period of the band's existence. Certainly their most fun from a psych adventurers' standpoint. For me there is some personal nostalgic bias at play. This album was always in the rotation back when a certain friend and I would wile away endless summer days and night swimming in copious amounts of THC. There is no denying it was magical. Things happened that to this day I cannot comprehend. We are all magical beings until we become inhibited and responsible. Of course most of us grow up at some point. And yet a piece of music like this can transport you back a few clicks with ease and without regret.

This collaboration between Ron (Atom Heart) Geesin and Mr. Waters is an absolute winner. Recorded in the heady days of early 1970 it is a treasure of the first Floyd wave mindset, when they were still capable of having fun and trying weird things with no thought of commercial potential. This album is the product of Ron and Roger striking up a friendship at a dinner party and becoming golf mates. Ron had written much of the music but he needed someone to sing some vocal oriented tracks for his film project. Who better than this weird new friend? Eventually the guy would become a big star and swear off music like this, Ummagumma, and even the glorious Atom Heart Mother. But Roger's opinion of this slice of youthful endeavor is only a sad reflection of himself, not of this music. We, his fans, know better.

Alastair: Did you enjoy working with Roger? Ron: Yes, very much.

Alastair: Would you have liked to have worked more with him? Ron: Yes, I think we were a potentially lethal team.

Alastair: Do you have any thoughts on Roger's music today? Ron: Not much. I can't stand the Bob Dylan-ish American accent, or the meddling in politics. He's got plenty of money coming in, so he should make pure expressionist pieces and not try to conform to some imagined acceptability factor.

-Ron Geesin interview by Alastair McLean

Go Ron! The music of "The Body" is a pure treat for those who love the albums like More, Ummagumma's studio side, and Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast. This has all the avant-garde doodling of Breakfast and craziness of "Several Species of Small Furry Animals" mingling in a puddle, and yet manages much more. Off the wall cello breaks, Italian sounding piano bits, and of course the Floydian feel of Grantchester Meadows Roger. The Roger we knew and loved. The acoustic haze of Roger and the crazy ideas of Geesin will of course appeal to the young "inspired" Floyd fan, but I found this album holds up nicely even for an oldster. There are good melodies on display in some of these tracks. There are clues to the future Roger brilliance to watch for, like when he utters the line "Breathe in the air" on this album's "Breathe." There are the Floyd themselves guesting on a track, and soulful female background singers that will surely remind you of Pros and Cons. There are simple spring songs not unlike Roger's "If" and there is Geesin's love of collage music, stereo panning, and flat-out experimentation. The album is a self-contained afternoon off the rails, when you're drooling for a slab of Pink Floyd moments that never actually happened. Except they did, here.

Far from a throwaway title to be ridiculed by the masses, "music from The Body" is a first class psychedelic gem and a successful smoothie of progressive ideas from two acclaimed musicians in their young hearted days. Don't be cynical. Remember a Day.

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