NICK MASON'S SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS: LIVE AT THE ROUNDHOUSE

If I think about Pink Floyd of the last decade I can't help but getting the feeling of a musical legacy spread thin by its former members. That awfull film of the Wall by Roger Waters being the low-point. Yet, this live recording (dvd/cd/lp) of Nick Mason and friends had the power to suprise me with a fresh new look on the band's early career. No renditons of Dark Side of the Moon and everything that came after it, but the psychedic pop, garage rock and early symphonic prog of the Syd Barret era and the years following it. The band works with the original material trying to land a song like 'Emily Plays' in a meaningful and playful way into the year 2020; which is perhaps harder than recreating the timeless material of albums like 'Wish You Were Here'. The band plays the psychedelic pop songs with great enthusiasm and songs like Interstellar Overdrive and Atronomy Domine are played with a nice piercing psychedelic rock vibe. The telecasters shriek nicely. The more progressive songs like 'Saucerfull of Secrets', 'Set the Controls for The Heart of the Sun' and even 'Atom Heart Mother' (a short medley) are played with a great sense of authenticity. There is no David Gilmour type soloist here, but by playing the songs with two guitarist the band adds a nice layer of musical interaction. Nick Mason's drumming is suprisingly steady and on point and his experience of being a member of that early sixties Pink Floyd is fellt during the concert. The keyboards have a nice warm sound, slightly more modern but the sounds are well chosen to recreate the original vibes. The band plays songs from the earlier albums and also from 'More' and 'Obscured by Clouds', of whom the two instrumental opening tracks are a welcome addition. As a final remark I would like to say this concert does not sound like a concert played by overly mature men, as some later Pink Floyd-related releases tend to do. It is fresh, fun and pretty deep as well (when it comes to more progressive material). The stage presentation has a nice early psychedelic touch and the camera work does a good job in showing what is interesting at that particular moment (solo's, vocals, fills, etc). This little light hearted gem might just be the best Pink Floyd releated release of the last twenty years.