A SAUCERFUL OF SECRETS

PINK FLOYD fans are not going to like what I have to say about this album, which sounds to me like THE BEATLES meets HAWKWIND meet BONZO DOG DOO-DAH BAND. In my teens this album sounded wierd and hip, now it sounds dated, simplistic and almost thrown together.

The bass riff at the beginning of 'Let There Be More Light' sounds very promising but the remainder of the song does not deliver, although there are clear indications in this track of better things to come in later albums. The dated "Lucy in the sky" reference at one point and the music itself reinforce an image of someone getting stoned in a Marrakech kasbah.

'Remember A Day' also sounds very 1960s-ish. I quite like it, probably for nostalgic reasons rather than the music itself, which is a pleasant enough, somewhat dreary tune and nothing special.

'Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun' is another pot smoker's hymn, with its hypnotic, Tantric-sounding chant. Very hippie-ish and dated, but quite pleasant and relaxing. Nothing special though.

'Corporal Clegg' is another very 1960s-ish song. It seems like a poor imitation of THE BEATLES' "Sgt. Pepper's" style. It reminds me a bit (especially the part with the kazoo, or whatever it is) of the BONZO DOG DOO-DAH BAND. I don't know whether the track is supposed to be cynical, but nevertheless it does nothing for me.

The album's title track is psychedelic space music full of random sounds made with the instruments, slightly reminiscent of HAWKWIND's live interludes. Think tinkling wind charms, noises like night birds - that sort of thing. It sounds like the soundtrack of a thriller or horror movie - the part where the psychopath is stalking the victim in a dark warehouse. The organ at the end is quite nice, though - almost church-like.

'See-Saw' sounds like some 3rd rate imitation of a BEATLES song from "Sgt. Pepper's". It has facile lyrics, is boring and again sounds very dated.

'Jugband Blues' again sounds like a 3rd rate rip-off of THE BEATLES' "Sgt. Pepper's". It's not anything special.

Overall, this is one of the least interesting of PINK FLOYD's albums in my opinion. Perhaps of interest to collectors in order to follow the history and evolution of the band, but musically less interesting than much of their other work.