THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN

Pink Floyd was a band formed between 1963 and 1965 and that had several names and several band's members during that period of time. In 1965 it was officially founded with its usual name and the original members consisted of the architecture students Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Richard Wright and the art student Syd Barrett. Barrett was the original creative force behind the band, which he named after the bluesmen Pink Anderson and Floyd Council. He would lead the band only for three years. However, Barrett's era was fundamental for what they became in the future.

'The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn' is Pink Floyd's debut studio album and was released in 1967. It was also the only album made under the leadership of Syd Barrett. The line up on the album is Syd Barrett (vocals and guitars), Roger Waters (vocals and bass guitar), Richard Wright (vocals and keyboards) and Nick Mason (drums and percussion).

'The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn' has eleven tracks. All songs were written by Syd Barrett, except 'Pow R. Toc H.' written by Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Nick Mason, 'Take Up The Stethoscope And Walk' written by Roger Waters and 'Interstellar Overdrive' written by Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright and Nick Mason. The first track 'Astronomy Domine' is a great song to open the album. It's a typical psychedelic song of the late of the 60's with a very powerful rhythm and an excellent guitar work. This is one of my favourite songs on the album. The second track 'Lucifer Sam' is another excellent song on the album, also with powerful rhythm, especially because the fantastic bass work of Roger Waters. It represents another great moment on the album. The third track 'Matilda Mother' is a typical song of the late of the 60's and must have been a must in those times. It's a very good psychedelic song that reminds me other great bands of those times, The Rolling Stones and The Pretty Things, only to mention two of them. This is another great song. The fourth track 'Flaming' begins with a strange sound and is another typical psychedelic song. It has, in the middle, some dissonant parts but it evolves and is in reality a very enjoyable song to listen to. This is another very interesting song on the album. The fifth track 'Pow R. Toc H.' has a very strange begin and is also very insane but evolves to a nice and charming piano work by Richard Wright. It has also, in the middle, some dissonant musical moments, but it gives to us, in reality, a very good and interesting musical moment. This is a song that reminds me strongly The Doors, especially the piano sound of Ray Manzarek. The sixth track 'Take Up The Stethoscope And Walk' is a typical song of the 60's with some improvisation musical moments, with good keyboard work, but without nothing more than that. It's, in my humble opinion, one of the weakest songs on the album. The seventh track 'Interstellar Overdrive' is, in general considered, the great magnus opus of the album. It's the lengthiest song on the album, full of improvisations and dissonant musical parts which make it confusing and chaotic. This is a very different innovative and interesting song with some progressivity and that we may also be able to consider their first approach to the space rock. The eighth track 'The Gnome' is a song that reminds us the children's world. It's a very weird song with silly lyrics and with a musical incursion into the acoustic folk music. However, this is, for me, a very enjoyable and a funny song. The ninth track 'Chapter 24' is another psychedelic song were the organ has a strong presence. It's on one hand a very simple, nice and melodious song, but on the other hand, is a weird and a dark song. The tenth track 'The Scarecrow' is a very short song with an interesting and strange musical sound. It's another psychedelic song but this time with a kind of a medieval sound with nice keyboard work and an interesting percussion sound. It's another enjoyable song. The eleventh and last track 'Bike' was the song chosen to close the album. It's a childish and mad song with good lyrics but completely insane. This is a very strange way to finish this strange, na've and special album.

Conclusion: 'The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn' is a very special and unique album in all Pink Floyd's discography. It's the only studio album under the leadership of Syd Barrett and it's also, practically, the only studio album of the band with his participation as a band's member. It's true that he participates also on Pink Floyd's second studio album 'A Saucerful Of Secrets', but his participation was seminal with only one song. 'The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn' is also, in a certain way, a Syd Barrett's album because he wrote almost all the songs on the album. This is also a mythic album for those who love this Pink Floyd's musical era and Syd Barrett's music. 'The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn' is a very good album that explores the psychedelic music in its more intimate and complexes senses with some touches of blues. It isn't a true progressive album, but it's a landmark of the psychedelic music, and it must be seen as a central piece of music of the end of the 60's. This is also a very important musical document that clearly shows the beginning of the mental instability of Syd Barrett, with his deep disturbs, which would become, in a short term, in a breakdown.

Prog is my Ferrari. Jem Godfrey (Frost*)

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