Ummagumma

jaco · #1 11-17-2001, 01:57 PM

Although I've heard that the band doesn't think much of this one, I think it has a lot of strong points. After 30 years - and a lot of changes in the band - I still think CWTAE and Set the Controls are genius, and I see a lot of later stuff in Saucerful (i.e. Atom Heart Mother, and possibly Shine On).

The live album is - in my eyes - a solid summary of early Floyd, and a picture of their incredible stage presence. I'd say 9/10. Parts of the studio album are somewhat disappointing (7/10 at best), especially where it is evident that Roger was taking the project much more seriously. Sysyphus (is this a British way of spelling the mythological character, becuase I've only seen it as Sisyphus in American texts of Roman/Greek mythology?) is an impressive and emotional journey, but slow at times. Grantchester Meadows (which unless I'm mistaken, is where Dave is from) is eerily beautiful, and one of my favorite Waters works (at least musically). Several Species etc. (don't expect me to write the whole title out) is incredibly innovative in my eyes, and a great demonstration of Roger's progressive/avante-garde style (not to mention his indescribable imagination), which I think influenced a lot of modern music (anyone else see faces of modern techno in this one?)...

anyways, I love all the stuff from this era, and I was just wondering what you peeps thought about this album?

Radiochair · #2 11-17-2001, 02:20 PM

Ummagumma is quite good. Not their best albums, but it has some good points. I liked Sysyphus, Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving With A Pict (the name is probably wrong), Narrow Way pt.3, and Grand Vizier's Garden Party. I can't stand Grantchester Meadows. Live albums is nice also.

Organ Grinder · #3 11-17-2001, 06:21 PM

Grantchester Meadows is excellent live.

thorin13 · #4 11-17-2001, 06:28 PM

odd that someone hates Grantchester Meadows but some like Several Species. sysyphus is good as is narrow way but the rest are throwaways. oh and of course Grantchester Meadows is good. and i don't really think several species could have influenced modern techno music as one person put it because i don't think too many people have heard it.

Dogs are dead · #5 11-18-2001, 04:02 AM

i don't really like the studio album. the live album is excellent especially 'careful with that axe'. i have ummagumma on a tape and i'm not sure if it is a mistake, but 'set the controls for the heart of the sun' is not a live version on my tape and it's totally same like the version on saucerful.

phsycadelic breakfast · #6 11-19-2001, 09:30 AM

I like it. My fave is probably the narrow way (all parts) As far as the live cd goes, not bad but too short IMO. Personally my fave live work in this era is probably live at pompeii. It's got more songs and all well done especially saucerfull of secrets. Carefull with that axe eugene is a favortie of mine but i do prefer the studio version over the live ones (the one that appears on relics.

thorin13 · #7 11-19-2001, 09:43 AM

i don't really like the album version. too short and no screaming if i remember correctly.

Eugene · #8 11-19-2001, 02:45 PM

"Ummagumma" is just great! The Live Version of "Careful With That Axde Eugene" and "A Saucerful Of Secrets" are amazing!!! The Studio Album is very good, too. But i just can listen to it in a special mood. It's not something you can listen to while doing your homework or something like that. But after all it's great. I love this weird, pychadelic stuff....

phsycadelic breakfast · #9 11-19-2001, 05:42 PM

Yeah not as much screaming but i do like the organ on the studio version, i think it's more melodic but meh that's just my opinion.

A Talking Head · #10 11-22-2001, 11:56 AM

ONE FACT ABOUT "UMMAGUMMA": Despite the wide belief that the word "ummagumma" means something nasty, it doesn't. The band says they made it up out of the blue, because "it sounded like something you could chant."

fixxlevy · #11 11-22-2001, 12:04 PM

"It means "****" in Cambridge". I forget which band member can be attributed to this quote, but I've got it in some book kicking around.

Cheers,

Mark

Radiochair · #12 11-22-2001, 12:34 PM

As I recall, the Pink Floyd Encyclopedia says that ummagumma is slang for having sex.

thorin13 · #13 11-22-2001, 01:02 PM

i heard that it was slang for rock n roll which in turn is slang for sex.

A Talking Head · #14 11-22-2001, 09:01 PM

"Last I heard" yadda yadda yadda. A Floyd encyclopedia proves nothing (was Vernon Fitch there when they came up with it?). I could write a PF bio and say Roger Waters was actually a Turkish immigrant and some people would be duped into believing it. The band, not just one member, the band, says the word "ummagumma" means nothing at all. Some college punks just turned it into an innuendo.

Bride of a Bull · #15 11-22-2001, 09:23 PM

What proof have you that "the band says" yadda yadda yadda?

Are we to believe your claim that "the band said" over anything written by Vernon Fitch just because you say we should?

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Ummagumma

After Syd Barrett