The Madcap Laughs by Syd Barrett

The Madcap Laughs, Syd Barrett's first solo album, released in January 1970.

Syd Barrett was a founding member of Pink Floyd, a singer-songwriter, and a central figure in the 1960s psychedelic rock movement, known today for his genius and subsequent decline in mental health. His life was marked by creative ups and downs, including an influential role in early Pink Floyd and only two solo albums, followed by a withdrawal from public life due to his deteriorating mental health, exacerbated by heavy LSD use. Barrett died in 2006, but his legacy as a visionary artist continues to influence musicians today. Simply a genius.

An album with a very troubled history: the project began in 1968 after Barrett left Pink Floyd, a period during which he was frequently hospitalized for his well-known mental health problems. The project was then abandoned, only to be resumed in 1969, when recording resumed with the aim of improving the initial recordings, bringing on board musicians from  The Soft Machine, (Robert Wyatt, Mike Ratledge and Hugh Hopper), Quiver (Willie Wilson), and Humble Pie (Jerry Shirley). However, Barrett's unpredictability once again led to discontent, and  Roger Waters and David Gilmour were called in to help him complete the album, which was released in 1970.

Some songs are sparse and poorly arranged, reflecting Syd Barrett's psychological state at the time, and he has been criticized for this. But why shouldn't music reflect the state of mind of those who compose it? What purpose would it serve otherwise?

An overall brilliant yet very fragile album, featuring experimental, psychedelic, and acoustic tracks with surreal lyrics, sometimes chaotic and directionless, including beautiful songs like Octopus, Golden Hair, and Dark Globe. A candid glimpse into Barrett's mind during a difficult period, with a sound that was ahead of its time and influenced later indie and psychedelic rock artists.

Some notes on some tracks:

- "Octopus," an exceptional song with powerful acoustic guitar and a very catchy melody.
- "Golden Hair," a beautiful composition, both haunting and sublime, with lyrics based on a poem by James Joyce.
- "Dark Globe," a powerful, at times desperate song, representative of Barrett's state of mind.
- "No Good Trying," featuring a beautiful psychedelic arrangement with a strong drum part.
- "Love You," which sounds upbeat and joyful and has a brilliant melody.
- "Late Night," featuring beautiful slide guitar.
- "Feel," a beautiful acoustic song.

Cover art created by Hipgnosis; for the cover photo, Barrett personally painted his bedroom floor in orange and purple stripes, moving all the furniture and his guitars against the wall.

An album I enjoy listening to, the album of a genius.

This album is a true Progressive Rock METEOR. Visit the PROG METEOR section for more information.

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