ATOM HEART MOTHER

The beauty in this album is that of a talented and creative rock group in search of identity. Not too far removed from the demise of their original leader, Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd was still looking for that cohesive foundation of style that they could build on with the lineup that became what most people know of as Pink Floyd. Atom Heart Mother captures this search (a search that began with the very underrated Saucerful Of Secrets) in a way that I think makes the album more interesting than the majority of their more polished works that are to follow. They are grandiose and powerful on the title track and minimalistic and recluse with If and Fat Old Sun. Summer '68 is the most approachable song with classic British layering and wonderful backing vocals. They finish up with another very creative prog gem in Alans Psychedelic Breakfast.

After this effort, with time gradually eroding the influence of Barret, the group would go down a path of more musical acclaim but in the process the beautiful simplistic psychedelia exhibited on this album would gradually fade and never return. Being a huge fan of Barrett Floyd and early Floyd in general this is my favorite Pink Floyd album and if you open your mind and give it a chance it could become yours as well.