UMMAGUMMA

"Ummagumma" is the 4th full-length studio album (partially live) by UK psychadelic/progressive rock act Pink Floyd. The album was released through Harvest Records in October 1969. The original release was a double LP. The first LP features 4 tracks recorded live and the second LP features new original studio compositions by the band. Or maybe more correctly each band member contributed their own songs to the project. "Ummagumma" is Pink Floyd´s second 1969 album, as they had already released "More" in July of 1969.

The 4 tracks featured on the live part of "Ummagumma" are great quality live tracks performed by an inspired and probably tripped out young band, featuring a pretty good sound quality (for the time) and a great atmosphere. The live versions of "Astronomy Domine" and "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" are quite brilliant and the psychadelic trips "Careful With That Axe, Eugene" and "Saucerful of Secrets" are stunning too.

Unfortunately the studio part of the album can´t match the brilliance of it´s live counterpart. The Roger Waters´s penned "Grantchester Meadows" and the David Gilmour penned three part suite "Narrow Way" are decent contributions, but both the Nick Mason penned "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict" and the three part "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party (Part 1: Entrance; Part 2: Entertainment; Part 3: Exit)", and the Richard Wright penned four part "Sysyphus (Parts 1-4)", are pretty redundant to my ears.

The high quality of the live recordings on the first LP, are worth the price of admission alone, and they are the reason why "Ummagumma" is a worth while release even though the studio part of the album is decent at best and redundant at worst. A 3 - 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.