UMMAGUMMA

Ummagumma is loved by a lot by fans but it was never a favourite of mine. The first half is a live set which is very good, especially for lovers of early PF. The second half is the studio work which probably features the craziest and most eccentric of all the band's work.

There are contributions from all band members and one of my favourites is the spooky, eerie "Sysyphus" by Richard Wright. David Gilmour's "Narrow Way" pieces are softer in comparison, very nice too. Another favourite is Waters' Grantchester Meadows. It's a very quaint acoustic track with whispery vocals but "Several Species of Small Furry Animals...." whilst quite amusing, doesn't float my boat so well. Sometimes the music gets a little too over-ambitious and experimental. However, through the chaos there are a lot intriguing things on here too .

I always liked the cover, with the picture within a picture on the wall mysteriously showing the band members in different positions. In all, not a great album to start with if you are new to the band. It is still good though and would be a nice addition to your prog rock collection. 3 stars.