Gonzo Natural Magic CLOWNS & JUGGLERS: THE SONGS OF SYD BARRETT [VINYL]

Standard black vinyl two LP edition. Without Syd Barrett, there would have been no Pink Floyd. Their music never dates; it feels timeless. They were utterly unique, and people remain as fascinated by their origins today as when they first heard them.They sounded unlike anyone else when they started in the 60’s. They were not simply imitating Black American music, as so many British bands were then doing; this was something entirely new and exciting. As Nick Kent once observed, Pink Floyd seemed to arrive fully formed from the very beginning, and much of that was due to Syd’s startling talent as both a songwriter and a musician experimenting with new sounds using what was, by today’s standards, primitive equipment.Alongside The Beatles, Syd Barrett pushed the boundaries of instrumental innovation. While The Beatles were recording Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band down the hall at Abbey Road Studios, Pink Floyd were working on The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Through avant-garde experiments with backwards guitar techniques and multi-track recording, Syd explored far beyond the limits of conventional popular music.Syd developed his own equally unconventional approach, playing slide guitar with a Zippo lighter and wiring his instrument through two Binson Echorec units, using sound like a painter uses colour. Clowns and Jugglers is an official release, whilst it could be called a “Tribute album”, the project co-ordinators are at lengths to say it is more a “celebration” than a tribute. Featuring many exclusive tracks from the likes of Kula Shaker, Soft Machine, Voyage 35, Robyn Hitchcock (featuring John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin fame), Henge and Tom Bowness to but name a few. That coupled with the last ever live performance of Pink Floyd themselves, all very fitting that they should end their live career where it started, not to mention a certain Mr David Bowie making an appearance – this Celebration of both Syd and his music is a must not only for Floyd fans – which there are alot, but music lovers in general.