Wow, it's 42 years today that Pink Floyds Atom Heart Mother was released in the UK. I'm celebrating by dusting off the album and giving it a play. I don't listen to this album enough. I remember the first time I bought it, which was only about 10-12 years ago, the title track just blew me away. This was progressive music as it's best, really pushing the boundaries with a 20 minute long instrumental with brass, orchestra and choirs. For me it was the link between their earlier stuff like Piper and Saucerful to the early 70'S Darkside. Alot of people see Meddle as that connecting album but for me Meddle wouldn't exist without Atom Heart Mother.
Everything about the album is perfect, from the random Storm Thorgenson cover to the great range of music within. The title track aside you had the amazingly soft and beautiful "If" by Roger Waters with some of his best lyrics..."If I were a swan I'd be gone...If I were a train I'd be late again...And if I were a good man, I'd talk with you more often than I do).
Then you had Rick Wrights Summer '68 which drives along with all his late 60 misdemeanors. Then you have the sublime Dave Gilmours Fat Old Sun which is just a sit back in a field on a sunny Sunday kind of song. And to finish it all off you have Alans Psychedelic Breakfast, proving that even throw away studio ideas can be turned into something. The highlight of this song is the sound effects of Alan actually making his breakfast. If you listen to it on headphones the sizzling bacon will actually make your mouth water. And the far away noise of a plane over head, the lighting of the gas, just brilliant.
As an aside, the original 12" had a groove at the end, so the final bit of the record, the sound of a dripping tap, went on forever until you picked up the needle.
Here's to a moment of genius!
Everything about the album is perfect, from the random Storm Thorgenson cover to the great range of music within. The title track aside you had the amazingly soft and beautiful "If" by Roger Waters with some of his best lyrics..."If I were a swan I'd be gone...If I were a train I'd be late again...And if I were a good man, I'd talk with you more often than I do).
Then you had Rick Wrights Summer '68 which drives along with all his late 60 misdemeanors. Then you have the sublime Dave Gilmours Fat Old Sun which is just a sit back in a field on a sunny Sunday kind of song. And to finish it all off you have Alans Psychedelic Breakfast, proving that even throw away studio ideas can be turned into something. The highlight of this song is the sound effects of Alan actually making his breakfast. If you listen to it on headphones the sizzling bacon will actually make your mouth water. And the far away noise of a plane over head, the lighting of the gas, just brilliant.
As an aside, the original 12" had a groove at the end, so the final bit of the record, the sound of a dripping tap, went on forever until you picked up the needle.
Here's to a moment of genius!