A Saucerful of Secrets by Pink Floyd

“A Saucerful of Secrets” - A Turning Point For Pink Floyd

In many ways "A Saucerful of Secrets" could be considered Pink Floyd's most pivotally important album. It is not their most musically important, or their best album although in my opinion is it very good and contains some of my favourite Pink Floyd songs

"A Saucerful of Secrets" is the final appearance of initial bandleader Syd Barrett and the introduction of Dave Gilmour. This signalled a growing responsibility on the shoulders of Roger Waters, although the album closes with the Barrett song "Jugband Blues".

Syd made two solo albums with the help of Dave Gilmour, and apparently appeared in the studio for “Alan’s Psychedelic Breakfast” on “Atom Heart Mother” and when the band were recording “Wish You Were Here” although no one recognised him. “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” was about Syd.

The opening song on the live “Ummagumma” album was the Syd Barrett song “Astronomy Domine” the opener from Pink Floyd’s debut album “The Piper At The Gates of Dawn” so Syd’s spirit stayed with the band in one form or another.

Back to the album now, I watch an interview with Storm Thorgerson of Hipgnosis and this was the first album cover that he did for the band (many of their stand out covers were Thorgerson’s work, “Dark Side of The Moon”, “Wish You Were Here” and “The Division Bell”) , but this is still one of my favourite album covers.

Thorgerson said they wanted to create a swirling psychedelic effect with planets, magicians, bottles, a zodiac wheel and the band sat by the water side. My friend Harry thought the album was called “Y D” because of the type along the top of the cover.

The cover reflected the music on the album a great deal jumping off into space and cosmic areas with a few diversions back to earth. There are seven songs on the album and you can see how the band were moving away from Barrett’s almost Lewis Carrol like whimsey to more serious issues, though “A Saucerful of Secrets'' was just a significant turning point. This is where the band began to map out the dark and repetitive pulses that would characterise their next few records.

The Seven Songs

Let There Be More Light - Roger Waters

Starting with a manic bass line before slowing down to a ponderous riff directing the band into definite space rock territory.

Remember A Day - Rick Wright

Just a beautiful song of remembering good times, although the music is not out of place alongside the opener but then slides into …

Set The Controls For The Heart of The Sun - Roger Waters

This is an almost suicide mission. The title says it all. A simple three note riff and heavy drums propel this on for five minutes, sending the crew to their probable doom. An unforgettable song in my opinion.

Corporal Clegg - Roger Waters

This is almost music-hall comedy, but has Waters flexing his anti-war muscles, Possibly the weakest song on the album. But that is maybe because everything else is so good.

A Saucerful of Secrets - Mason, Wright , Gilmour , Mason

This consists of four parts

I. "Something Else" - Improvised space sounds

II. "Syncopated Pandemonium" - A drum solo with electronics and more noise

III. "Storm Signal" - A finale as slowing down

IV. "Celestial Voices" = The real finale, a Rick Wright organ chord piece in the style of possibly Vaughn Williams.

Seesaw - Rick Wright

This could have almost appeared on the first album but is totally at home here. Vaguely whimsical preparing us for …

Jugband Blues - Syd Barrett

Syd's Pink Floyd farewell, vaguely shambolic, but an essential part of this album, almost saying this is what you have lost.

Conclusion

An excellent album, forty minutes and you shouldn’t do any track skipping. I have listened to the whole album three times while I have written this piece and it still goes by too quickly.