Disco de Pink Floyd: “In London: 1966-67 [Bonus Interview Disc]”

Even better is the video [look in the VHS section for " London '66-'67 "], which contains the same performances plus surprisingly clear footage of the band performing at the UFO Club in 1966 (some of it in sync with the audio also heard on this CD), as well as footage of a "happening" in London with John Lennon in the audience hanging out. A bit of the psychedelic London of the 60's preserved for your viewing pleasure...

Pink Floyd, or "The Pink Floyd" as they were then known, first made a name for themselves by with their freaky, far out, free form improvisations of electronic music. The closest thing you get to that on "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is "Interstellar Overdrive", however even that consists of two performances, one overdubbed on the other. Here you get a better sense of what they must have sounded like live. It may take some getting used to, however if you like the version of "Interstellar Overdrive" on "Piper", you'll probably also like this version- cut live and without overdubs and running sixteen minutes long. "Nick's Boogie" I find is not quite as interesting- more a series of effects than a musical mystery tour like "Interstellar Overdrive".

While this type of music made Pink Floyd popular at London psychedelic clubs such as UFO, it was not going to result in hit singles or even hit albums in all likelihood. As it happened, Syd Barrett, whose unpredictable effects-laden guitar playing led the Floyd along their improvisations, also had a knack for writing catchy psychedelic ditties of the sort that defined Floyd's first singles and most of the album "Piper at the Gates of Dawn". However that album and their hit singles bore so little relation to what they tended to do live that when they toured the UK in 1967, most audiences were utterly unprepared for, and appalled by, what they heard. So it's not surprising that these tracks weren't released at the time. Still, it's good that they were recorded and that we can hear them now and enjoy the Pink Floyd at their most far out and experimental.

I may have taken the liberty of stating my opinion as if it were fact on my other reviews of Pink Floyd albums. That's probably because I just don't understand how anyone could fail to love their music. That Pink Floyd are the absolute greatest band ever is a matter of opinion. But if you are fortunate enough to appreciate their music then you will undoubtably like this recording of early 1967 jam sessions, which make it blatantly obvous that this band were the monarchs of experimentalism and originality. Music had never been heard like this before. The early Floyd played like jazz musicians, reacting to each other and improvising around chords. But they did it with electric guitars, an electric organ and a double drum kit. Very loud and VERY good. I recomend this almost solely to people who are fans of ALL of the Floyd's early output. In my view "Interstellar Overdrive" sets the standards of brilliance, which Pink Floyd would bring to all of the areas of music which they cared to venture into (and they ventured far and wide)in the following years. While an amazing piece of music by itself this CD is also notable for including Rick applying his knack of making the organ sound like everything from a group of violins to a blasting french horn. Syd, at various times throughout the two tracks makes his guitar sound like birds singing, door bells ringing, piano strings snapping and motorbike engines starting. Roger just plays bass of course but he is still vital to the sound with all of his free-form techniques. Nick keeps "Interstellar Overdrive" running at the appropriate pace and shows what an inventive drummer he was on "Nick's boogie". This is Pink Floyd opening their recording career at suitably groundbreaking volume and weirdness.