ATOM HEART MOTHER

Sadly this album is often underrated and not appreciated at the way it should be. Each note here is filled with brilliance and unique inspiration, and this is perhaps the FLOYD's more progressive work. Here we have the most wonderful union between an orchestra and a rock band. Both of them complete each other in perfect shape, and i greatly appreciate Ron Geesin's contribution with the orchestrations which is what make my love for this album be so big.

The title track is perhaps the Floyd's most essential work in terms of progressive music. It would also be their most successful song in this field along with "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and its nine movements of rich instrumental exploration. The suite opens with "Father's Shout", a great intro announcing that this is a whole new FLOYD. After some noises and pure orchestra we are led to "Breast Milky", a very melodic piece showing how Gilmour can put his soul into his guitar. This and "Mother Fore" are my favorite parts of this album, being the latter alone one of the FLOYD's most touching moments. "Funky Dung" has a theme that will be later repeated on the song "Echoes", from their next album. After this the epic starts going a bit "crazey" - but in a good way. The last parts repeat some of the last movements, mixing them together in a psychedelic vein that is characteristic of the FLOYD (yeah, even trying to make an album cover in the less psychelic way possible - a cow, just a simple cow starring at the camera, even though i think this cover is one of their most psych ones despite its apparent simplicity - they still held together with them their spacey psychedelic roots which appeal us so much). Finishing the first floydian epic in a glorious way, we have the return of the song's first section's rhythm, with an insane guitar playing by Gilmour full with emotion and beauty. This track alone makes the album worth getting, but the trip is just starting... "If" is a great acoustic song sung by Waters. Even though it is a bit repetitive, it is still very beautiful and if you are in the mood you'll get moved while listening to its interesting lyrics instead of annoyed by the mumbling singing. Next we have "Summer'68". I admit that i never liked this song, but now it is growing on me in a way that allowed me to give this album a 5 star rating. I was never a fan of the way this song seems to lose path before Gilmour says "how do you feel, how do you feel??" but i am now tolerating it. We have here the return of the orchestra, making a great work once again. "Fat Old Sun" is my second favorite number here. Gilmour shows how talented he is as a singer too, with a very soft vocal performance that fits with the music very well. Now we have "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast", thirteen minutes of very well done experimental work.

In my opinion this is one of the most important prog rock works and should be listened to everyone who's into the genre. Here we notice that the true FLOYD sound was borning, leading to their golden era soon. But compare this experimental album with their last two ones, "Ummagumma" and "More". None of the those worked perfectly as this one did, and here we also had the first floydian epic, the title track. What a great way to begin the 70's decade...the one that featured the most incredible works of progressive rock, and the peak of music in general.