The double album "Ummagumma" was a huge disappointment when I bought it. I thought the live album was pretty decent, although I was already familiar with "Careful With That Axe Eugene" as it was on the "Relics" compilation album, whilst the two songs on Side Two were on "A Saucerful of Secrets". "Astronomy Domine" was new to me though, as at the time I was still to acquire "Piper At The Gates Of Dawn", and I quite liked the version here.
Although there is nearly 40 minutes of live music, it is only four tracks, with extended instrumentation to extend the timings compared to the studio versions. It might have been nice to have included a couple of short songs for a bit of variety.
Whilst it might sound like a good idea to give each band member half a side to come up with something of their own, it merely proved that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. The word experimental can be used to describe large chunks of it, although pretentious crap also fits. It seems the band had been given a sounds effects machine and they were determined to overuse it.
The best thing about "Ummagumma" is its cover, which I now know features a Droste effect, where in the picture on the wall, the band members keep change places.
Listening again to "Ummagumma" after a gap of at least 45 years, my opinion hasn't changed.
Side One opens with Syd Barrett's "Astronomy Domine" at double the length of the original, with a lengthy keyboard solo repeating the main riff. It is still the best track on the album.
"Careful With That Axe, Eugene" has gentle cymbals to start with, then a soft psychedelic organ. The pace changes around the three minute mark with the spoken line of the title, screams and bass and guitar kick in and the drumming gets a lot heavier. It was nice to hear it again.
The version of "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun" is double the length of the album version, with the drumming much more to the fore and the vocal barely a whisper. There are some weird noises in the middle section, before the bass riff returns.
I didn't really like the studio version "A Saucerful Of Secrets" but part 4 here is much improved with some elegant organ and supporting drumming building to the crescendo, where just Gilmour's voice replaces the choir on the studio version.
Richard Wright's contribution is "Sysyphus", at nearly 14 minutes long, and in four parts is mostly pretentious rubbish. Sisyphus is a character from Greek mythology whom the gods forced to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll back down every time it neared the top, repeating this action for eternity. Part 1 is a short piece with mellotron and drums and is vaguely menacing. Part 2 begins with almost pleasant piano a la a Chopin sonata, but becomes just a pounding of the keys as if a small child had been let loose on the keyboard and is unlistenable. Part 3 consists of piano and noises similar to "Several Species Of Small Fury Animals ( see below ), whilst Part 4 has a slow, spacy mellotron with a hint of "Silent Night", leading into the last four minutes of tuneless noise, until finishing with a reprise of the motif from Part 1.
Roger Waters' "Grantchester Meadows" is actually a song ! It is over 7 minutes long, with birdsong for a lengthy intro before becoming a gentle pastoral piece, with just voice and acoustic guitar. I keep thinking that the tender acoustic guitar solo will become Rod Stewart's "Gasoline Alley", but it doesn't, and instead there is the sound of a swan honking and then taking off from the water. The track finished finishes with the sound of a bee, then some footsteps, before the bee is swatted.
Waters' second contribution is "Several Species Of Small Fury Animals". At 5 minutes long it is not music, just noise and is simply dreadful. It ends with some jibberish in a Scottish accent. Great title, dreadful track.
Side Four begins with David Gilmour's "The Narrow Way", which is in three parts. Part One is a listenable acoustic guitar piece until some slide guitar and noises spoil it near the end. Part 2 has a sinister guitar and a bass riff similar to "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun" before becoming more unlistenable noise. Part 3 has some singing and a reasonable tune.
Coming from the drummer, Nick Mason's "The Grand Vizier's Garden Party"is predictably a waste of vinyl. A short flute intro is harmless enough but the second part is percussion, tape effects and then a drum solo before a reprise of flutes for the exit. I'll be happy to never have to hear it again.......
Track Listing :
Side One :
1. Astronomy Domine
2. Careful With That Axe Eugene
Side Two :
2. A Saucerful Of Secrets
Side Three :
2. Grantchester Meadows
3. Several Species Of Small Fury Animals Gathered Together In A Cave And Grooving With A Pict
Side Four :
2. The Grand Vizier's Garden Party
Released 1969
UK Chart Position :5