Syd Barrett was the vibrant & talented founder/ songwriter / guitarist for Pink Floyd, who broke out of the mid-6o's London Underground scene with their debut album Piper At The Gates Of Dawn in 1967. Filled with Barrett's songs of whimsy and English psychedelica, it put the band on the musical map - but then it all went pear-shaped for Syd.
Suffering mental illness and schizophrenic tendencies, possibly exacerbated by his prodigious drug intake, he eventually left Pink Floyd in 1968. He went on to make two obscure solo albums - aided by his replacement in Pink Floyd, David Gilmour - before disappearing totally from the music industry in 1972 to live a quiet life in London & Cambridge, until his death in 2006.
Barrett was Syd's second and final solo album - a bizarre, sad, lonely and baffling record that seems to document a life unraveling before the listeners ears. At times out of tune and time (Barrett was notoriously hard to play with as he changed key and time signatures at random points during songs), this record also contains some brilliant moments - from his fragile guitar lines in "Baby Lemonade", to the obscure poppy feel of "Gigolo Aunt". It's not always an easy listen: "Rats" and "Maisie" are obviously the product of a disturbed individual, and the brilliant silliness of "Effervescing Elephant" could only ever have been written by a guy they called the "Madcap". And "Dominoes" has to be one the most beautifully sad songs I have ever heard. A real highlight.
This album is definitely not for everyone, but in my opinion it's a very interesting piece of work from one of rock's most talented yet tragic figures. Rest in peace, Syd.
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