UMMAGUMMA features a set of live performances on Disc 1 and a collection of solo studio projects by various band members on Disc 2.
Disc 1 was recorded live at Mothers, Birmingham, England and live at The
The remastered Japanese special-edition release features a vinyl-inspired design.
Party-liners may favor DARK SIDE OF THE MOON, but diehard space cadets recognize UMMAGUMMA as the pinnacle of post-Barrett Floyd's achievement. Originally released as a double LP, the first record is a live recording from 1969, while the second features four extended cuts written by (and featuring) each of the four band members in turn. Eschewing the catchy, Kinks-influenced pop kaleidoscope of the band's first album, the live portion focuses on extended, spacy near-instrumentals, heavy on acid-fueled jamming and atmospheric electronic textures.
From the Eastern-tinged "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun" to the over-the-top psychosis of "Careful With That Axe, Eugene," UMMAGUMMA's first half is ground zero for the genre that would come to be known as space rock. The solo efforts on the second half are undoubtedly the band's most experimental, unconventional efforts ever. They make good use of the avant-garde techniques that were a key early influence, like musique concrete-style tape collage and sound effects. Along the way, there's some lovely folk-tinged balladry, courtesy of Roger Waters ("Grantchester Meadows"), and some proto-prog keyboard wizardry (Richard Wright's multi-part "Sysyphus").
Japanese remastered reissue of 1969 album packaged in a limited edition miniature gatefold LP sleeve.
Manchester College Of Commerce, England in June 1969.
Pink Floyd: David Gilmour (vocals, guitar); Richard Wright (vocals, keyboards); Roger Waters (vocals, bass); Nick Mason (drums).Q (1/95, p.275) - 3 Stars - Good - "...something of a bravely flawed gambit combining a side of Floyd live and archetypally spacey, with a studio set full of mad but appealing individual experiments..." Mojo (Publisher) (9/00, p.121) - "...Based on the principle that groups are often at their best when they don't know what they're doing, this is Pink Floyd at their most adventurous....genuinely sounding exploratory..."
Mmmmmmm. "Ummagumma" is a fascinating recording that can be easily divived into sections.
Part one captures live Floyd performances of the time. "Careful with that axe Eugene" "A saucerful of secrets", "Set the controls for the heart of the sun" and "Astronomy Domine" formed the backbone of the 1969 set and are very good indeed...
However the same cannot be said of part two. This half of the programme is divided into 4 sections and each band member is given a quarter of the time available to create something to change the face of popular music...
Drummer Nick Mason contributed "The Grand Viziers Garden Party" which is completely awful...organist Rick Wright provided "Sysyphus" which is very similar...guitarist Dave Gilmour came up with "The narrow way" which is much better, and Roger Waters, bass player and emerging talent debuted "Several species of small furry animals gather together in a cave and grooving with a pict" which lives up to it's extended title and "Granchester Meadows" which is an all-time top Floyd tune.
The best is excellent...the worst is awful. 3 stars is an average score! Submitted by a reviewer (Somewhere in England.) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Weird This cd is really weird you won't know what to think, but it is good. Submitted by rblackie2004 (Desoto Missouri) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 3 of 3 found this helpful. This review is for a different format.
Off The Wall You really have to be in a 'Pink Floyd' mood to enjoy this one. Submitted by a reviewer (Downey, CA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 1 of 1 found this helpful. This review is for a different format.
One of the best P.F. album Ummagumma can be considered one of the Pink Floyd masterpiece.
I understand that it's hard to listen, especially for young people who haven't lived the seventies era.
But here you'll find an atmosphere that you can't find in another CD Submitted by marco60 (Macerata, Italy) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo 2 of 3 found this helpful. This review is for a different format.
Set the controls.... This isn't for the meek at heart, but there are some great tunes here. Set the controls for the heart of the sun, careful with that axe, astronomy domine are all right there. No, it's not the Dark side of the Moon, but the boys show what they're made of. A must have for the Floyd Nation. Submitted by DMDoLAC (Middletown.CT. USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo This review is for a different format.
Mmmmmmm.
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