Pink Floyd - "Meddle" Vinyl, LP, Album, 1971 (Harvest)

Either by having too much time on my hands, or boredom or both, I have been like an ant leaving the anthill to find something beyond Syd Barrett's version of Pink Floyd. Which until this year, I knew nothing about, except the fact that Syd is brilliant, and Pink Floyd albums after Syd are shit.  This mind you is from the mind that truly believes that punk rock was zero one, and everything before that needs to flush down the toilet.  My extreme stance I realized now (after 40 something years) may be a tinge too harsh.   

Lately, I have been hitting the second-hand vinyl stores for Pink Floyd, and here is where I found "Meddle."   My conclusion is that after Syd Barrett, Pink Floyd really had problems focusing on a stance or platform to exist without Syd.  The truth is, they did exist and even became more successful after they lost their original songwriter and figure heard.  Although they have commented on Syd in various songs afterward, the fact is Pink Floyd not only became a different band but also with their backs to the wall, even became important. 

The years after Syd, before "The Other Side of the Moon" they sounded like they were making music for soft-porn European films. Which is not a bad thing, because here they took the time to focus on what they want to do after the Syd administration.  "Meddle" to me sounds like a bridge between the Syd years to something slicker in the Pink Floyd later years.   The truth is that they are comfortable making this type of music and what they do is done very well.  "Meddle" has great riffs, and is remarkable in some sort of Booker T. & The MGs groove, which may be something out of my imagination, but Pink Floyd does have a sense of funk and grit.  To me, when hearing "Meddle" it's not too far off from "Green Onions."  There is this almost 'musique concrete' aspect of their music, which is very much in the depth of their pop songs, but they clearly love the aspect of making works that are based on sound.   "Meddle" is a very good Pink Floyd album.  Beyond that, in any sense of direction or movement, this is a fantastic album.  There was life after Syd.  I'm surprised about coming to this conclusion. 

Pink Floyd - "A Saucerful of Secrets"" Vinyl, LP, Album, Reissue, Remastered, 2016/1968 (Pink Floyd Records)

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.  

Robert Wyatt - "Different Every Time Volume 2: Benign Dictatorships" 2 x Vinyl, Compilation, 2014 (Domino)

Curated by Robert Wyatt, this is his second compilation of what he feels is his best work on the disc. The first volume was recordings under his own name, but here it is totally devoted to his collaborations with other artists.  Basically, he served on their recordings as a vocalist or even just a backup singer.  The thing is when Wyatt opens his mouth and he sings, he pretty much owns that tune.  It's not that he has the greatest voice on this planet, but as a vocalist, he's a unique presence, and in a manner, he reminds me of Chet Baker. Not that their voices are similar, but both are musicians who also sing.   

Of the seventeen songs here, I only know three songs.  They are Phil Manzanera's "Frontera," Nick Mason's "Siam," and one song under his name, but written by Elvis Costello and Clive Langer,  "Shipbuilding."  Beyond that, all the artists are basically unknown (except for Bjork, Hot Chip, and Epic Soundtracks - artists that I have heard of, but really don't know their music.)   Wyatt I think is moving out of his comfort zone, and that makes him an artist of importance.  He is an excellent collaborator.  I can't say I love every track, but all of them are at the very least interesting.  Special notice to his recording of John Cage's "Experiences No. 2" which was an early Obscure Records release.  

Nick Mason - "Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports" Vinyl, LP, Album, 1981 (Columbia)

Actuality, there are only two cool people in Pink Floyd.  Syd Barrett of course, and the other guy, who was their drummer, Nick Mason.  He's cool because he produced classic Robert Wyatt albums as well as The Damned's second album.   He's the kink in the well-oiled Pink Floyd machine.   Nothing against Roger Waters and Dave Gilmour.  Both good guys, but Mason I felt, investigated areas outside of the Pink Floyd world.  When you hear a Waters or Gilmour solo album, you pretty know what you're getting. On the other hand, what in the hell is a Nick Mason solo album? 

"Nick Mason's Fictitious Sports" is not really a solo album by Mason.  He co-produced, co-engineered, played the drums and I have to imagine he picked up the recording cost bill, but in its essence, it's an album by Jazz composer and pianist Carla Bley.  I'm not that familiar with Bley's music, except that her band is very much a big or enlarged jazz band. The one album I do know of is her work with Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra album which is excellent.  Haden's work has a strong left political context, but here, Bley's lyrics tend to be more on the side of absurdity, which serves the over-all humor of Nick Mason's album.  

The key reason why I bought this album is all due to Robert Wyatt.  He is the lead singer on this disc, and anything that has his magnificent voice is worth having.  Saying that, this is not really a Wyatt album, even though he has done many covers in his solo career, this still belongs to Bley.   If pushed to the corner and my back against the wall I would describe the music as big band jazz arrangements but with pop music overtures.   This is work that is very tightly arranged, and Wyatt, Mason and other great musicians that are in Bley's world, fits in like a great puzzle.   Basically, Mason lent his name and reputation to this project for Carla Bley.  Which again, makes him the coolest member of Pink Floyd. 

One also must give credit to Michael Mantler, who has done music with Bley for years, and her husband, the bassist Steve Swallow.  Dynamic horn section consisting of Gary Windo, Gary Valente, Howard Johnson and others.  Sharp guitar work by the fantastic Chris Spedding.   It's literally impossible for this group of musicians to make bad music together.  

Robert Wyatt - "Rock Bottom" Vinyl, LP, Reissue (Domino)

Is it possible for anyone on this planet to dislike Robert Wyatt's "Rock Bottom?"  The album is very much the definition of "classic" or better yet, perfection.  The dreamy textures, the hidden melodies that come bubbling up from the mix, and the beautiful playing by Robert and company, it's just a superb work.  The balance of humor and tragedy is walking on a highwire.  At the same time, the music is very sad but hysterical at the same time.  "Rock Bottom" is a very unique listening experience.  The production/recording by Pink Floyd's Nick Mason is exquisite.  Not only one of my favorite all-time albums, but I suspect that many feel this way.