Hi once more, fellow Floydians:
Regarding "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" record I must agree with the previous posters' opinions, for it's not my favourite Floyd album. In fact, I'm not very fond of that whole psychedelic period of the band, when Syd Barrett was the leader and main composer/lyricist. Some critics do claim that the man was a genius, whose work was stimulated and later spoiled by the abuse of drugs. In my view, the music that Barrett composed was just the materialization of his random and totally uncontrolled delirious and schizophrenic ramblings, with very little artistic value, if there was any! Later on, when Waters took over and Gilmour replaced Barrett, they were still heavily influenced by the psychedelic atmosphere so typical in the '60s., but it became much more restrained and in tune with the aesthetics that the Floyd were after in search of a new style that would be their own. Songs like "A Saucerful of Secrets" -though much more digestive in its second part, as the first is just made of abstract, disperse and senseless sounds-, or "Careful with that Axe Eugene" are splendid to listen to, especially the live versions performed in the "Live at Pompeii" show!
All that goes to say that I do prefer their 1970s.' period, which is far more rich and mature in terms of the quality and artisticality (if such a word exists) of their music.

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Pink Floyd's music is the best equivalent to the most exhilarating state of transcendence!