A SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS

Pink Floyd's second album is basically the same line of its predecessor. Comparatively, we have psychedelic arrangements as well but a little more diluted in favour of melody. Spacey motives have been almost reduced to the creepy title track which, by the way, is the album's finest: it has 3 parts; the first starts with a scaring crescendo noise (sounding like a ship coming our way), followed by twinkling objects by wind giving a sensation of loneliness and fear, psycho strong piano, strange sounds exploring stereo. sudden they vanished and the second part brings a crescendo drumming leading to more terrifying sounds. The ending part is quite different, with melancholic slow church organ playing followed by mellow chorus.

Other highlights include the tracks until the title track, the main riffs and melodies of Let There be More Light and Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun, this last with some spacey ideas as well; and the sad nostalgia of Remember a Day. These and the title track song have constituted very influential songs over the next decades. The other tracks are basically pleasant songs, which show more again (like in the debut album) strong BEATLES influence, particularly from one of their most experimental (and best) works "St. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club".

Resuming: more diluted psychedelic ideas but also more catchy melodies and one incredible ambience 3 part suite. We can even smell a start of the transition that would transfigure the next albums.

My rate: 8/10