Tuesday 25 June 2013

Pink Floyd: A Saucerful of Secrets

A Saucerful of Secrets

Best song: Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun

Worst song: See-Saw

Overall grade: 5

Nick Mason is seriously underrated. Not as a drummer, he was never that great at that, but in his importance to the band as a whole. And by that I’m not talking about the sound effects or studio work, I just mean that (as comes across in his book) he has this great easygoing nature, and I actually have this theory that if it wasn’t for him keeping the peace, the band would have split up far earlier than they eventually did – possibly even before The Wall.
But he couldn’t prevent the problems this early incarnation of the band had. This album contains the last traces of Syd Barrett’s version of the band, most notably in the disturbing standout closer ‘Jugband Blues’, which provides the missing link between Piper and The Madcap Laughs. It’s wonderfully bleak, with cryptic lyrics and simple guitar contrasted to the Salvation Army band that plays in the middle, and it always makes me cry. It could only work as the final track.
The album’s also a new beginning. Several of the tracks here feature songwriting and guitar contributions from new guitarist David Gilmour. The title track in particular is outstanding… with sections that were originally titled ‘Nick’s Boogie’ and ‘Richard’s Rave Up’ I feel like the eventual titles fit the piece a lot better. It’s weird and experimental and at times you have no idea what you’re listening to, but it’s a great early example of the Gilmour/Waters songwriting partnership bringing the band’s best work. I’m also a big fan of ‘Let There Be More Light’ which has a really memorable bassline and David Gilmour’s first-ever guitar solo with the group. And I’ve always liked the title for some reason.
 So there are great songs, but then they’re balanced out by a bit of filler, like ‘See-Saw’ – which technically has nothing wrong with it but has nothing to remember it either – and ‘Remember a Day’ which I quite enjoy, but at the same time is like a poorer version of a Syd Barrett single. I actually enjoy ‘Corporal Clegg’ as a standalone song and a kind of novelty tune (single: ‘Corporal Clegg’ by Roger Waters feat. Nick Mason on kazoo) but it definitely don’t fit in with the early-space-rock theme of the album.
I think it’s fitting that ‘Set the Controls…’ is the best track on here, considering it’s rumoured that all five members play on it, making it unique in the Floyd catalogue. It’s very quiet, nothing like the noisy freak-out of the title track, and its sinister atmosphere that’s mostly down to Rick Wright’s organ work and whispered lyrics make it into a classic. One of the few early Floyd songs where the studio version almost equals the live version.

Considering that this album should feel like the disjointed ramblings of a band with no idea what direction they’re going in, I think the fairly minor drop in quality between Piper and this is a remarkable feat, and if they had kept up the greatness of the good tracks for the whole album, I would have had no problem giving Saucerful a 7 too.

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