"Flaming" by Pink Floyd

When I think of Pink Floyd’s “Flaming,” I often remember butterflies from my childhood and the sweet smell of corn from my old age (Sorry, a bit of a Beefheart reference for all of my lesbos out there). This song is like the first computer. What does it belong to? What Syd era Floyd often did best was create a sort of music that was out of place, sure, various archival footage makes very clear that the Floyd belonged to a very specific time and place from a social perspective, and especially in a live setting, but the actual music is still even years ahead of the present.

There is something so undeniably potent about Syd Barrett’s imagination, and it is all reigning. This is a sort of music or just a sort of sound in general and including the lyrical content that is pure imagination. I am talking about the real Willy Wonka here, baby. You know? ...The one that sells ear candy exclusively. Just listen to this cut some time and pump it up on your bitchy little headphones, as I will be holy fucked if your brain doesn’t successfully transform into an atheistic cigar box directly from God’ private stash. Don’t fuck with this song, because it will thoroughly fuck with you forever. It is inviting and frightening, and what a lovely musical contrast that is. Syd era Floyd often conjured many feelings simultaneously, they were just that devilishly clever and undeniable. Always with the whimsy, and yet, there is always an element of tension and a possibility of danger even, perhaps.

The percussive element is such a light touch on the whole, as the track is mostly a soundscape for Syd’s little adventure and all of the folky acoustic work and keyboard noodling contained within. So, enjoy the future now (And yes, the video leaves a little to be desired but the song is a juicy steak all up in your cummy undies forever).

"Bike" - Pink Floyd

What can one say exactly about a song that defines a man? "Bike" essentially displays Syd Barrett's childlike weirdness with great aplomb and intensity. The music is rather fun and sunny on the surface, but is always hinting at something slightly darker underneath. Clearly, "Bike" was a Pop song that never was, as it could have easily been released as a single. This tune is very befitting of late '60's English Counter-Culture in art, music and performance. Of course, since this is Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd, we are also examining a song that successfully captures a timeless element as well. It is true that The Beatles were working on Sgt. Pepper literally right down the hall at the exact same time Syd and his mates were creating Piper in the Abbey Road Studios. It is said that Syd was inspired by Lennon's musical weirdness in particular, and went about giving "Bike" his all.

The premise of the song is funny enough in terms of vocal content, but ends on a rather blurry and frightening note of Found-Sound noises culled from the Abbey Road archive. While not the hit in England that "Arnold Layne" or "See Emily Play" were, I believe it is more than safe to say that "Bike" is indeed Syd's signature tune with the Floyd, and perhaps just his trademark song in general; as later in life it was rather commonplace to see Syd strolling about in his neighborhood on a fancy bicycle. With such exuberance and energy does Syd deliver his celebrated vocal, it's as if he's lost in his own little world that somehow seems undeniably inviting to the listener. Again, there's a quirky element of humor, but as is often the case with Syd, some serious intense drama is buried in there somewhere as well.

It is certainly the length of a late '60's Psychedelic Pop tune, but this is no "Green Tambourine." There's an aspect to Syd's original version of Pink Floyd that doesn't exactly make it ripe for mainstream consumption, and rather ironic as well that the failed single "Apples & Oranges" was performed on the old Dick Clark Bandstand show in the States. With the fun little organ tinkering away into madness, here is the original Pink Floyd with "Bike."

"Interstellar Overdrive" by The Pink Floyd

"Interstellar Overdrive" is one of my all time favorite tracks. It's an instrumental but not in that background music sort of way. "Interstellar Overdrive" is a journey straight to the middle of your mind, and if you're lucky, you'll make your way back out.

It's the 7th track on the Pink Floyd 1967 masterpiece album Piper At The Gates of Dawn.

"Interstellar Overdrive" is the masterwork of this era of The Pink Floyd. Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd. Barrett wrote this song and it's trademark otherworldly guitar sounds that drive the song into the stratosphere.

At 9 Minutes and 41 seconds long the song is both an epic in the sense that it is very long and also in the sense that it takes it's listener on a journey with it's many different sections.

I think it may just be the most psychedelic song I've ever heard.

This track has been covered by quite a few bands including Pearl Jam, Camper Van Beethoven, The Melvins, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and The Mars Volta.