I actually like Ummagumma

Ummagumma is definately an underrated album. Gotta love the live side.

I was actually surprised when I went through my mother's old albums a few years ago (she was a casual Floyd listener in the 70's) and found DSOTM, Meddle, and...... Ummagumma. I was really surprised to find it in there.

I prefer both the live versions of "Set the Controls..." and "Astronomy Domine" from Ummagumma to their studio versions.

As far as the studio album goes I like "Grantchester Meadows" and the third part of "The Narrow Way" (though the lyrics are quite awful). The "classical piano" bit in "Sysyphus" (I think it's Part 2) is nice but, on the whole, I think there's too much experimentation in the studio album for me to actually enjoy it.

I think David Gilmour invented the Black Sabbath sound before Black Sabbath! Listen to the Narrow Way Part 2. Ummagumma was released in 1969. Black Sabbath's first album was released in 1970.

Tried synching it to this random film the other night. 2001 the odyssey or something. It fitted quite nicely. More or less. Do you think it could possibly be deliberate?

I used to feel that generally the live tracks were good and the rest were dross.

Lately though, and by lately I mean the past couple of years, I've begun to develop an appreciation for the studio tracks as well. In rather atypical fashion for me, I actually don't like the Waters portion. Mason's portion is also a bit silly, but I imagine many of you feel the same way about that. I think the real meat of the album is "Sysyphus" and "The Narrow Way".

Gilmour's "The Narrow Way, part 3" is nice, and has a very interesting chord progression. I wish they'd printed the lyrics to it in my 1994 EMI remaster, but alas, only Roger's lyrics for "Grantchester Meadows" appear.

I think, however, that the masterwork of the album lies in Wright's mellotron work on "Sysyphus, part 4". It's hauntingly beautiful and I really wished he'd experimented more with the instrument.

Any thoughts?

I know 2001: Space Oddyssey synchs up with Ummagumma, but you should find out how to time the synch. I know Fixxlevy knows about this issue; he can clear this up.