BARRETT

Syd Barrett was a genius! The first Pink Floyd bandmate have revolutionned rock music introducing instrumental improvisation ("Interstellar Overdrive"), psychedelic originality to pop songs ("See Emily Plays") and creating a style mixing blues, jazz, folk, theatrical music and rock'n roll (The whole "Piper at the gates of Dawn"): he is a pioneer of prog!

After his depature of Pink Floyd and his first very good album, Syd was into a uncomprehensible mental illness. David Gilmour and Rick Wright helped him to record this album. And even if it's been forgotten, it still sounds good.

The album starts with the guitar introduction of "Baby Lemonade". Syd has a great voice, still writes inspired lyrics and still plays a dreamy guitar as shows the guitar solo. It's a kind of poetry which I think would inspire some artists as Robert Wyatt, Caravan and even Genesis.

Then "Love song" is another quiet and sweet song where Syd's vocals seems resigned and Rick Wright brings a great help with his pianos solos.

"Doominoes" seems to be a high stage in Syd poetry: slow rythm, inspired lyrics, troubled vocals, guitar and keyboards solos. It's pure genius and I think it's overrated.

The next song "It's Obvious" sounds more happily with Syd enthousiastic voice.

"Rats" sounds more folky and dynamic with its chorus "That's love Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah!".

"Maisie" is a bluesy tunes with loud vocals which remains Syd drugs consommation.

Then "Gigolo Aunt" is a really good song with Syd who sounds like a child in "See Emily Plays" with good guitars solos and funny concept.

"Waving my arms in the air" sounds like all his nursery ryhms, with a rock'n roll spirit like shows the electic guitar.

Then "I never lied to you" is another very sincere love song which shows that everything that syd do is good.

"Wined and Dined" sounds as good as "Chapter 24" with a quite folk feeling.

Then "Wolfpack" is a very rock experience (which inspired Waters's vocals work I think), with other good guitar solos.

Finally, "Effervesing Elephant" is as says Allmusic "a nursery ryhming" song with a tuba who remains elephant and Syd's cool vocals

Eventually I think i"Barrett" is a colorfull mixture of differents feelings and moods which inspired artists like Robert Wyatt, Caravan, his bandmates (from Gilmour to Waters) but also David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Ian Anderson, Peter Hammill and Paul Mc Cartney.

To be re discovered.