I'm such a huge Syd Barrett /Syd's Pink Floyd that I never bothered to hear the second and onward of their albums. It was a moment of either boredom or curiosity that I listened to Pink Floyd's second album "A Saucerful of Secrets." And even odder, I never heard "Jugband Blues," which is the last Syd record with the Floyd. I did purchase a pair of compilations to get some of the Syd/Floyd singles or b-sides but was pleasantly surprised with the Richard Wright songs. So, it was a sense of hesitation, yet I was aware of this album for 50 years, and now it was time for my first listening experience.
Recorded at the height of Syd falling apart, and being tossed out of the band, "A Saucerful of Secrets" is an enjoyable affair, and it doesn't touch on the drama that must have been felt during this time. Except for "Jugband Blues" which is disturbing, but perhaps due to hindsight after hearing Syd being kicked out of the band. Again, the true highlight of the listening experience is the pair of Wright songs. "Remember a Day" is a breezy melody, but wrapped in a cloak of sadness. It sounds like Syd's younger brother, but even more interesting is his "See-Saw" which has a slight late Beach Boys vibe to it. Half exotica, but with a Brian Wilson touch. A wonderful song. The rest is Roger Waters, and although I do enjoy the psychedelic aspect of the instrumentals, there is something heavy-handed in his songwriting. He doesn't have the lightness (with a tinge of true darkness) of the Syd and Richard songs. It's a solid album, and even with the troubles of that present time, they, of course, went on to become an iconic and wealthy band. I regret that Richard Wright didn't do more of these type of pop tunes that are a total delight.
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