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Atom Heart Mother by: Pink Floyd

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Rating: - Extremely under-rated masterpiece

Yes, it is a masterpiece, I believe. and under-rated, criminally under-rated. The title tracks is one of the most diverse, eclectic, fantastic pieces of sound written ever. The sttutering, seemingly random brass that start it, the gorgeous "main theme" (which they nicknamed Theme From An Imaginary Western) which is nearly as poignant as that from SoYCD, I think, and then the cello solo, which is gorgeous, and the choir part is excpetional. Weird semi-vocalisations, bizarre wordless noises, still very melodic, it's superb stuff. And then the "Mind Your Throats Please" electrnoic weird section is utterly great too. It all adds up to a superb piece which is supremely avant-garde, but also (and maybe partly due to being) very symphonically minded. The title track is, to me, better than Echoes, maybe it's nearest comparison, due to length and style.

Following it is hard, but the three next songs make a very worthy attempt, and are also pleasant songs. If is beautiful in its simplicity, a complete contrast to the lavish, complex web that is the title track, proving why Pink Floyd are my favourite band, the immense diversity of them. If, in particular is an acoustic gem. Summer '68 is also a good song, the keyboard part in particular (though as it was written by Rick Wright, that's not surprising). A lot more wistful than it might at first seem. And then, there is Fat Old Sun. Totally beautifully divine, better than even If. Fat Old Sun is the sort of song that can make you feel deliriously happy and cosy, and also poignantly melancholy. The pleasant stummy guitars and then the moving lines: "And if you see, don't make a sound, pick your feet up off the ground, and if you hear as the warm night flows, the silver sound of a tongue so strange, sing to me, sing to me." It's not so much the words (though they are beautiful) but the musical genius that gets me, the melody in particular. Joy and beauty, but melancholy, and spine-tingling.

And then, Alans' Psychedelic Breakdast. Just don't lsiten to it, it really is dire. After such immense quality, this is shocking and spoils it entirely. I basically disregard it as being on the album, and count it as over after Fat Old Sun. My worst Floyd song, and the only one I will not listen to. Butm please, do NOT let this song put you off the rest of this beautiful album.

Rating: - The most psychedelic album i've ever heard

Atom Heart Mother is a very good album and one of Floyds best in
my opinion. It starts out with a 23 minute rock orchestal piece
that has an overall theme and is at times scary(if your real stonned) and other times puts a smile on your face(stonned). It has a western theme with spooky train wrecks in the middle. The only voices you hear are somebody saying"and now a loud announcement" or something right before the chilling train wreck and "silence in the studio" before the main theme remerges. It is divided into 5 sections:Fathers shout, breast milky, funky dung (my favorite section with great guitar riffs etc.), mind your throats please(the haunting section), and remergence.

The second song is If
It is a slow relaxed song that after AHM made me start laughing(stonned).It just sounded really funny after a sometimes chilling 23 min. instrumental.

The third song is Summer 68
This song is cool and about one night stands. The horn sections make you want to jump jollely up and down and sometimes side to side.

The forth song is Fat Old Sun
You hear church bells in the beginning and then a very mellow song transpires. It is a really good sounding song. It makes you think of sitting on a freshly cut lawn in the evening in the summer smelling the fresh grass drinking lemonade.

The forth song is Alans pscydelic breakfast
It is an instrumental that includes 3 songs Rise and shine, Sunny side up, and morning glory. In the background you'll hear the sounds of cereal being poured, eggs being cooked, and toast popping up.(Im hungry)

All in all its in my top 3 Floyd albums and the most psychedelic album I've ever heard.

Rating: - A mixed album by a confused band!

This album struck chord at the time of its release as it was extremely innovative with its use of rock accompanied by a horn section. This is perhaps why it even managed to go one better than Dark Side Of The Moon which was released three years later and top the charts (although Dark Side has spent decades on the UK chart and is still probably on the Billboard chart). However this album is a real mixed bag of tricks in that it still contains some of the rather baffling tin banging reminiscent of "Sysiphus" from "Ummagumma" on "Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast" mixed with some rather bland rock songs. The highlight of the solo written cuts (and also of Rick Wright's Floyd writing career) is Summer 68 which has bouncy rhythm and a bit of bite to it, something which the rest of the album lacks in its rather pretentious anti-heavy rock outlook. Waters' "If" is at best a Nursery Rhyme whilst Gilmour's "Fat Old Sun" sounds like an ageing McCartney tune (sorry post Beatles Beatle fans but their post Beatle tunes are labourious and boring!) and really warns us of what was to come when Waters "quit" the band. They would do better on 1971's Meddle with regard to rock tunes. The same can also be said for "Atom Heart Mother" in comparison with "Echoes" off the aforementioned "Meddle". The title track actually does have a very good intro riff which is somewhat tainted by the Geesin scored horn section. Then after the first four minutes the song curtails off into a directionless drift which is OK if your sitting around the house stoned but really sends you to sleep. Perhaps only being 20 when writing this and not being alive when the album was first released I could be accused of not getting the "Psychedelic Progressive" vibe. But as I own "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn" and feel that that is a classic piece of Psychedelia from Mr Barrett, I can look at this album from the outside and say that this represents a band that hasn't escaped in essence its mentor and found its second niche within Waters' lyrical and structual framework. However the are still some moments within the title track and "Summer 68" which make a worthwhile buy for collectors, but if your not willing to buy average stuff, perhaps its worth avoiding!

Rating: - Not to everyones tastes. Listen before buying.

This is a good album but it's one which requires patience to enjoy. It's full of slow 'chill out' music and those who like their music fast may find it boring. Unlike a lot of people I find the 23 minute title track to be very good. It features nice mellow music which often builds up to more dramatic stuff and then calms down again. Some of the slow sections will be too long and drawn out for some people, but not me I like them, and I think the choir sounds great. My only critism of the track is that in my opinion the tape loop effects about two thirds into the track slightly spoil it's flow. The second track (called 'If') is very mellow, lyrically good and musically sweet. It's a good track but not outstanding. Track3 (Summer 68) is my favourite on the album. Instrumentally it's very groovy, with plucky acoustic guitars, jolly piano playing and trumpet playing which sounds good and works very well with the other instruments. Track4 (Fat Old Sun) is probably my second favorite track. It's a beautifully dreamy atmospheric 'is'nt life beautiful' style of song, and it's a joy to listen to. The final track (Alan's Phychedelic Breakfast) is one of the most bizarre tracks I've ever heard. We hear the sound of Alan preparing and then eating breakfast and occasionally chatting, but good music plays throughout. The subject matter is unusual but the 3 tunes that the track is made up of are all quite nice.
I advise that people try to get a listen to this album before parting with money. It will not be to everyones tastes. As I've already said, listeners who don't like 'chill out' music will probably dislike it. Especially the title track.

Rating: - Beautiful, a hidden gem

The first song (Atom Heart Mother), at around 25 minutes, is pure bliss. Another great song is Summer '68, which has a great horn riff that reminds me of Led Zeppelin's All My Love solo- great orchestral type music amidst a chill-out rock tune by a hard rocking band.

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