This is a very confusing album... I mean it's interesting album in its own right... but an entirely different monster than Waters-led Pink Floyd. You might love it more than their classics of the 70's, but I for one don't feel from this what I do from "Wish You Were Here." 3.1/5
One of the most iconic British psychedelic albums. Their best work is yet to come however "The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" remains an essential work. The best song here is definitely "Astronomy Domine".
TPATGOD It's in the Top when somebody talks about "Psychodelic Rock", so far away to The Beatles (Sgt's Pepper) respect of mature and creativity and maybe at the same Level of Gretful Dead or Zappa.
One of the best psychedelic & proto-spacey-70´s-rock-album of all times. A farewell to Barret but a definitive and essential record for any lover of top quality avant-garde popular music. From the screamy guitars to the fat-hammond-notes, it´s a marvelous work.
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, the album that started it all. For Pink Floyd that is. This album is one of the best psychadelic albums of the sixties, alongside The Beatles Revolver and other such favorites. Lead man Syd Barrett's improvised solos and acid inspired lyrics and songs are what give Piper it's awesome sense of insanity. First of all the instrumental songs, such as "Interstellar Overdrive", use beautifully put together guitar riffs and synthesizers to make a strangely catching melody. At some points what you here may not make sense, but by the time the songs over, everything is fine. Other songs are ultimate psychadelic anthems, such as "Bike" and "Astronomy Domine". An example, "Matilda Mother" tells the story of a mother telling her child a story. What the story means however is for the listener to figure out. Anyways, in conclusion, Piper at the Gates of Dawn is not only great instrumentally, but it is equivalent lyrically.
If you are into psychadelic music then this is a must own album. While some refer to this as a Syd Barret album I disagree. 'Piper' ranges from the poppy 'Lucifer Sam' to the eerie and playful 'The Gnome.' Barrets hypnotic and trippy voice is firm throughout the course of the album but the ten minute instrumental 'Instersteller Overdrive" is one of the best drug songs of all time. and stands out amongst the rest of the songs off the album. Throughout the album their is creepy guitar work, twinkly effects and Syds hypnotic vocals add on and make this album extremely druggy. Even the lyrics on 'Flaming' are creepy revealiving information about a stalker. The album closes with 'Bike' a song that sounds like it would come out of a 70's horror movie. "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" is a masterpiece and every psychadelic fan should own it, or it least give it a chance.
