On November 7, 1969 "Pink Floyd" released their forth album "Ummagumma".
"Ummagumma" is a slang expression for "sex" that was common at Cambridge University, where the band members studied. Their classmate and who later became a member of the band's technical team - Iain "Emo" Moore used to use the phrase when talking to them about their existing sex. In stark contrast to the sexy expression that rolls so beautifully on the tongue, this is definitely not the album you want in the background as a soundtrack for romantic moments.
It is likely that even if you are among the fans of "Pink Floyd" you skipped it or at least did not devote more than a few consecutive listens to it.
This is an album where "Pink Floyd" went the furthest in terms of musical style and sound. An experimental, unorthodox, psychedelic, spice-rock, avant-garde album, that didn't produce even one single, let alone a hit. It finds the band in a transition phase from the psychedelic origins led by Syd Barrett to a more experimental and avant-garde sound. It's a double album, which is divided into two separate halves: a live album that showcases the band's technical and improvisational abilities on stage, and a studio album that includes individual works by each of the band's members. This ambitious approach emphasizes both the band's creativity and its willingness to push boundaries, even if the result is unusual and extreme.
The first half, recorded live at venues in Birmingham and Manchester, features some of "Pink Floyd’s" early staples, including “Astronomy Domine,” “Careful with That Axe, Eugene,” “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun,” and “A Saucerful of Secrets.” Here, "Pink Floyd's" live energy and improvisational skills are on full display, with extended, atmospheric renditions that breathe new life into the studio versions. “Astronomy Domine” is both haunting and electric, still echoing the psychedelic influence of Syd Barrett, while “Careful with That Axe, Eugene” showcases Roger Waters' visceral screams, evoking an intense, almost cinematic horror. These live tracks capture the band's atmospheric layering and gradual buildups, which would later become central to their classic sound.
The second half, which was recorded in the studio, on the other hand, is a unique unbridled, even disturbed, experiment in the personal creativity of each member of the band. Instead of working collaboratively, each member of the band took part of the studio album to create their own solo piece, and as a result this part of the album is a kind of fragmented and diverse mosaic that explores the sound, style and musical ideas that each band member is drawn to. Richard Wright brought "Sysyphus" a brooding four-piece piece influenced by classical music, but prone to chaos, experimenting with musical dissonances and electronic textures. Roger Waters' "Grantchester Meadows" is a serene acoustic piece that captures a pastoral serenity, filled with natural sounds that create a vivid sense of place. On the other hand, his "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict" is an abstract and surreal composition, built on sounds influenced by loops and unstructured voices, and adds an eccentric twist to the album.
David Gilmour's "The Narrow Way" is perhaps the most conventional of the studio tracks. A three-part suite that begins with an eerie, ambient sound and "Led Zeppelin"-style acoustic guitar, before moving into the guitar work more associated with the "Pink Floyd" sound. Finally, Nick Mason's "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party" features extreme avant-garde music, often considered one of the album's more challenging listens due to its avant-garde structure and lack of melody.
While "Ummagumma" doesn't offer the cohesion or polish of later "Pink Floyd" albums, it serves as an important artistic statement. This album marked a moment of musical experimentation and development, laying the foundation for the band's next masterpieces. It's a bold, imperfect and sometimes even embarrassing album, but despite its unevenness it remains an essential part of "Pink Floyd's" legacy, giving listeners a rare glimpse into the raw and unfiltered imagination of each member at a pivotal time and heralding the innovation that would define their career.
For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music
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