1. Astronomy Domine

2. Lucifer Sam

3. Matilda Mother

4. Flaming

5. Pow R. Toc H.

6. Take Up Thy Stethoscope

7. Interstellar Overdrive

8. The Gnome

9. Chapter 24

10. Scarecrow

11. Bike

All Music

The title of Pink Floyd's debut album is taken from a chapter in Syd Barrett's favorite children's book, The Wind in the Willows, and the lyrical imagery of The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is indeed full of colorful, childlike, distinctly British whimsy, albeit filtered through the perceptive lens of LSD. Barrett's catchy, melodic acid pop songs are balanced with longer, more experimental pieces showcasing the group's instrumental freak-outs, often using themes of space travel as metaphors for hallucinogenic experiences — "Astronomy Domine" is a poppier number in this vein, but tracks like "Interstellar Overdrive" are some of the earliest forays into what has been tagged space rock. But even though Barrett's lyrics and melodies are mostly playful and humorous, the band's music doesn't always bear out those sentiments — in addition to Rick Wright's eerie organ work, dissonance, chromaticism, weird noises, and vocal sound effects are all employed at various instances, giving the impression of chaos and confusion lurking beneath the bright surface. The Piper at the Gates of Dawn successfully captures both sides of psychedelic experimentation — the pleasures of expanding one's mind and perception, and an underlying threat of mental disorder and even lunacy; this duality makes Piper all the more compelling in light of Barrett's subsequent breakdown, and ranks it as one of the best psychedelic albums of all time.

Adrian ’s Album Reviews

According to an interview Pete Jenner, the first Pink Floyd manager, gave journalist Nick Kent Syd's influences included The Stones, Beatles, Byrds and Love. A song from the debut Love album went on to inspire the chord pattern for 'Interstellar Overdrive'. Syd wrote virtually the entire 'Piper At The Gates Of Dawn Album', but within 12 months he'd be out of Pink Floyd, and 'out of it' altogether, to all intents and purposes. Solo records would follow, but these will be discussed elsewhere on this site. Syd was the undisputed creative leader of Pink Floyd for their early clutch of singles, and this, the only full album he'd participate in for the group. Who knows what went on in the mind of Syd Barrett? What makes this one of the finest Psychedelic albums of all of time is that Syd had different thought patterns, he did things differently. The way he played guitar was different, the way he sang was different ( resolutely english ) and his lyrics were certainly not something heard before. Nursery rhyme lyrics almost, but very striking, not Rock n Roll lyrics as such. Syd took too many drugs, but the drugs wore him down, ripped him apart. He had a natural creativity, always did. He reportedly continues to paint to this day. Only one song from this set continued to be played live by Pink Floyd well into the Eighties and beyond, and that was the opening number 'Astronomy Domine' - "lime and limpid green, a second scene, a fight between the blue...." and the guitar doesn't even sound like guitar half the time, the production and mixing effects, the level of experimentation turn this into something far more that the basic structure and entity of the actual song, if stripped completely back, would suggest. But, there's all this groovy bass and pit-patter drum sounds here. It sounds like it's from outer-space, and it sounds pretty great, different for the time it was released, too. Still different to this day. And yeah, the guitar is truly fantastic, I don't even know what it's doing, but it doesn't seem to be doing anything 'usual'. The ending of the song is glorious, the layered vocals wonderful. 'Lucifer Sam' opens guitar heavy, the lyrics are stupendous other world poetry with a hint of nursery rhyme, making no sense, but sounding deep and heavy no doubt at all, provided you're out of your head! If you aren't out of your head, they sound great anyway, there is a natural poetry about the lyrics of Syd Barrett, not a structured learned poetry, rather a very natural way with language. Glorious guitar parts appear everywhere. I can even begin to imagine how the song came to be. 'Matilda Mother' has heavenly harmonies, more great lyrics, an exciting and mind-blowing mid instrumental section.

Roger Waters wrote a couple of songs here, people sometimes forget that. Well, he wrote 'Take Up They Stethoscope & Walk' and contributed to the band compositions, 'Intestellar Overdrive' and 'Pow R Toc H'. Before those 'Flaming' arrives, more Barrett lyric genius, more production and mixing experimentation - but it never obscures the melody of the song. 'Pow R Toc H' continues in this albums usage of strange effects and noises, but also continues with strong musical melodic content. 'Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk', the sole Waters solo composition owes obvious debts to Barrett, the lyrics are clumsy and basic compared to Syd, though. Roger would get better, and 'Take Up Thy Stethoscope' benefits from a demented musical assault, especially the way the organ solo is taken! 'Interstellar Overdrive' is nine minutes of loosely structured experimentation and jamming, although the basic pattern of the song holds it together, allowing the room for improvisation. Personally, 'Interstellar Overdrive' is just something to get off on, not a piece of writing genius, just these sequences of sound. Syd takes center stage for the closing sequence of songs. 'The Gnome' is a charming nursery rhyme song with strummed guitar and typically imaginative lyrics. 'Chapter 24' indulges in mixing experimentation, it sounds fantastic harmonically. 'Scarecrow' opens with lots of ticking and clock noises, a simple, very simple childs melody, more nursery rhyme type lyrics, but then, these lyrics? I mentioned the natural poetry about them. Let's mention the sheer imagination behind them, the worlds and pictures and places they place in your brain. Because they do. Who needs drugs? 'Bike' is almost a novelty song, but very very funny for it's lyrical content. And, that's 'Piper At The Gates Of Dawn' Syd and Pink Floyd together for the only time for a whole album project, an album project that's been massively influential through the years, and something that's never quite been done again.