Album : Relics – Pink Floyd

After being introduced to Pink Floyd with the ‘Meddle’ album and sneak playing their other albums (Umma Gumma, Atom Heart Mother) from my brother’s record pile,  CB ventured into this one which sent him  further in his search of Floyd’s music.

From the opening cut CB was into it.  ‘Arnold Layne’ and ‘Interstellar Overdrive’ were a  good one two punch.  ‘Interstellar’ was a trip and CB went with it.  It closes with the same riff it opened with.  I dig this tune.  ‘Emily’ is another tune written by this Barret guy.  I’d seen his name on a few song credits but no idea who he was.  CB had seen ‘Live at Pompeii’ and it was a four man band no sign of this guy.  I was liking his contribution. ‘Remember a Day’ and Paint Box’ end side one.  Good Floyd tunes.

‘Julia Dream’ opens side two with a softer sound with some spacey sound effects.  ‘Eugene’was just one of those pieces of music that appealed to CB.   An extended hard jam with a cool lyric that takes off into the ozone.  Loved the vibe of this tune.  ‘Cirrus Minor’ was what my buddy called “bird music” it was probably the first and last cut he ever listened to of PF.  CB vegged out on this stuff with a little help sometimes.  I was an album guy and would strap in for the duration and go for the ride. ‘Nile Song’ is hard and heavy and a welcome change.  Would have liked to have heard this one live.  Loud! ‘Biding My Time’ is in the same vein as ‘San Tropez’ from ‘Meddle’.  Starts out jazzy/bluesy laid back but then it picks up and changes the tempo and rocks out with a killer guitar solo.  Great tune.  Lots of changes which CB liked.  Another song by Barret ‘Bike’ ends the record.  Loved it.  Voice, lyrics, humor, vibe.  “Take a couple if you wish there on the dish”

CB loved this record. Played it a lot.  I was already into Floyd’s music.  ‘Relics’ solidified it even more. Pink Floyd really colored the type of music CB would gravitate to.   I was into Monty Python at the same time and found a similarity in that you never really knew what was coming next.  It suited CB’s personality.  A little unpredictable.  I was definitely going to check into the Syd Barret angle and more of what my buddy called “bird music”.