ATOM HEART MOTHER

After all those years I still don't succeed to get into this acclaimed Pink Floyd album, I miss the typical Pink Floyd 'flow' that usually carries me away to progheaven. Reading the reviews on Prog Archives about this album you can conclude that many Pink Floyd fans appreciate it very much. Well, it's not my cup of tea is my conclusion after playing "Atom heart mother" this afternoon.

During the recordings of this LP the band was in a rush because of the forthcoming USA tour. In order to gain time the band contributions were recorded first and then the orchestra and choir were overdubbed. Pink Floyd was not satisfied about the result and asked Ron Geesin to help. He orchestrated 10 brass players and a choir of twenty singers but the result remains "a plodding mess" according to Ron Geesin! In my opinion the epic titletrack has some fine and compelling moments (Gilmourian guitarplay and pleasant organ waves) but in general it sounds too experimental and fragmentic, to me there is hardly any direction and chemistry. Side two features the more acoustic/folky side from the band. It sounds warm, especially "If" (beautiful twanging acoustic guitar and tasteful organ and piano) and "Fat old sun" (pleasant acoustic rhythm guitar and halfway nice blend of sensitive electric guitar and organ). During the final track "Alan's psychedelic breakfast" my attention too often slips away, this is not my Pink Floyd music, their next can please me more!