Pink Floyd
Ummagumma

Year of breakthrough 1969: Pink Floyd, now definitively orphaned of Barrett's visionary genius, release this double album, still with a psychedelic imprint but with significant progressive symptoms. "Ummagumma" consists of a live disc and a studio one.

The live's approximately 40 minutes are occupied by four tracks from the band's previous works: after fastening your seatbelts, you embark on the space journey of "Astronomy Domine," then continue through the dark and haunting atmosphere of "Careful With That Axe, Eugene." The subsequent procession of "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun" is long and anguishing like never before and prepares us for the incredible 12 minutes and 48 seconds of a masterful "A Saucerful Of Secrets," in which we can gradually emerge from the darkness to reach the celestial voices.

The first approximately 12 minutes of the second disc are the work of Richard Wright, with the four parts of his "Sysyphus." A dark and majestic intro is followed by the spectacular second part, in which the keyboardist decides to transform into a sort of Chopin of psychedelia. The third part is mostly improvisation and precedes the suite, which concludes with the initial theme. It's Roger Waters' turn, presenting two distinct pieces. The first, "Grantchester Meadows," is an exquisite acoustic ballad with a poetic touch, opened and closed, as if it needs saying, by the inevitable birds. It is followed by "Several Species Of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict," where the birds enter a cave and mix with the sounds of other mysterious animals. The boundary between experimentation and madness in this track is rather thin. Then, it's David Gilmour's turn, offering the beautiful "The Narrow Way," divided into three parts: the first is acoustic, the second is quite experimental, and the third is the album's gem because, with its dreamlike atmosphere and despite a not excellent lyric, it foreshadows the subsequent Pink Floyd sound. There is also space on the album for Nick Mason and the three parts of "The Grand Vizer's Garden Party." The sweet flute theme of the entrance leads us into the garden's experimentation, where at least it is understood that the Grand Vizier probably loved percussion. After 7 minutes of entertainment, the flute gently leads us to the exit and the album's end.

"Ummagumma" is an album worth listening to, even though it is not easy to do so. Essential both for those who want to call themselves Pink Floyd fans and for detractors who barely know "The Wall." Perhaps it's too easy to praise them, but this remains a great album.