Tune of the Week: Which One's Pink?

Before they became a concept album behemoth, Pink Floyd were a part of the burgeoning psychedelic scene in London during the mid-60s. At this time they were creatively led by songwriter and guitarist Syd Barrett. After a couple moderately successful singles the group unleashed their first album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. It was recorded concurrently at Abbey Road Studios with The Beatles psychedelic opus, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. Unlike the grand production of that album, Pink Floyd’s conception of the psychedelic experience is more intimate. It really sounds like a bunch of friends tripping.

I believe it truly captures the psychedelic experience. There are pretty moments, profound moments, scary moments and silly moments. There are some half-baked ideas that turn into full blown productions. There is a writhing energy that has explosive changes in mood and tone. And at the end of it all you want to hear it all over again because there is a nagging feeling like you just missed something, but you’re not sure what.