THE PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN

This is my favorite Pink Floyd album, and I respect it as well as for the pleasurable music it has, but also as a psychedelic relic from 1967. I think that most of the best rock music emerged from that era, like Cream, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane and The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The opener "Astronomy Domine" introduces the listener to the chaotic world free associations and dreams. I think this is a bold opener, as it hasn't got anything to do with any rational musical directions associated with early psychedelia . Blues or folk leanings have shifted to unconventional chord progressions and very lunatic musical ideas. The following "Lucifer Sam" has a more familiar sounding 1960's rock song's basic structure, but it is attacked with mysterious sound missiles and has a very manic and good overall feeling in it. I think that the song paints us a portrait a black Siamese cat, or an obsession to it or something. "Matilda Mother" is also a true gem on this treasure chest, lyrics being thought-provoking and the descending chords in the beginning and in the verses create a very mysterious and unreal feeling. "Flaming" begins with an oppressing sound wall, which morphs to a psychedelic pop song. I first had bit uncertain feeling about this track, but somehow the tune opened after several listening times and I started to enjoy it much. I also heard that the original name of this song was "Flamingo" but the last letter was wisely dropped out. I also enjoyed "Take Up Thy Stethoscope and Walk" beginning and ending to symmetrical drumbeats, and in addition of furiously manic opening and closing verses there's only a freeform psychedelic assault left on this song. The biggest representative of this side of the band is of course "Interstellar Overdrive", which gives us a hint of the material they did on stage during this time. "Scarecrow" and "Bike" are then happily nut acoustic Syd Barrett songs, being also very pleasing. Their single cut "See Emily Play" which was as a bonus track on some import releases of this album is then maybe the best songs the whole band has ever recorded, not being on the original LP though. I guess this album which I value extremely wouldn't please those who have just found Pink Floyd via "Dark Side of The Moon" album, but I would recommend listening this if you are open minded, or you like the music of late 1960's. This is the most classic album which this band ever recorded in my opinion.