Barrett by Syd Barrett

Barrett, the second and final studio album by the genius Syd Barrett, was released in 1970, shortly after the release of his first album,  The Madcap Laughs.

The album was produced by  David Gilmour and Richard Wright, who also participated in the recording sessions as session musicians, with the aim of allowing Barrett to better structure his work. The recording sessions were less scattered than those of his previous album, The Madcap Laughs.

In June 1970, Barrett gave his first and only solo concert, followed by David Gilmour and Jerry Shirley, but after the fourth song, he shocked everyone by walking off stage. Making matters worse was the lackluster success of his second album. Barrett left London to return to Cambridge, and after a few attempts to form a new group, he decided to abandon his musical career forever.

Some notes on some tracks

- "Baby Lemonade," the very catchy opening track

- "Dominoes," is a whimsical, psychedelic song with intricate guitar work
- "Wolfpack" is a slow, dark ballad that showcases Barrett's vulnerability and raw emotions.
- "Love Song" is a beautiful love song, simple and direct, very personal.
- "Rats," the most upbeat and lively track, contrasting with the album's melancholy.
- "Gigolo Aunt" is a dark and menacing song with a haunting atmosphere.
- "Wined and Dined," an experimental track, blends spoken word poetry with acoustic guitar.
- "Effervescing Elephant," the album's title track, is whimsical and surreal.

The album cover was designed by Barrett himself; it is a painting of insects, inspired by the many drawings he had made as an art student at Cambridge years earlier.

It's difficult to give a definitive opinion on Barrett; his genius shines with such intensity that I can't find any flaws in this album. So I'll use his own words:

"The songs recorded have to have a certain quality, and on Madcap they achieve it maybe once or twice; on the other album, only a little, barely an echo. None of those songs are much more than that." A Syd who is honest, or perhaps once again assailed by ghosts and insecurities.

An album worth having in your collection. The last work of a genius who endured problems unimaginable to those who have never experienced them.

LineUp

- Syd Barrett - guitars, vocals

Featuring:
- Richard Wright - Hammond, harmonium, piano, co-producer
- David Gilmour - bass, 12-string acoustic guitar (1), organ (4,7), drums (3,9), co-producer
- Vic Saywell - tuba (11)
- Jerry Shirley - drums, percussion (7)
- John Wilson (Willey) - percussion (7)

Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page