A Saucerful Of Secrets
by Pink Floyd

From HoldenM TOP 100 COMMENTER 06/30/2025 18:55 | #309805

Don't know why I had already rated this when I hadn't listened to it. Whatever the case, I've listened to this now and the rating stands. A fantastic representation of the chaos Pink Floyd was enduring at the time of this album's recording, complete with a Syd Barrett swan song that, stylistically, is almost antagonistic. Could it be any other way? As a bridge from the psychedelia of Piper at the Gates of Dawn to the sprawling sounds that will come after, A Saucerful of Secrets is as rich as most transitional albums get. (Edited)

“A Saucerful of Secrets” was teh second and last Pink Floyd album with contributions from original guitarist and lead-singer Syd Barrett. Drug-abuse and illness gradually prevented Barrett in performing with the band and by the time of the album’s release he had been replaced by Dave Gilmour, who also plays on the album.
Whereas Barrett wrote the vast majority of the material for their legendary debut album “Piper at the Gates of Dawn” his contribution to this album is down to one song and he is absent on more of the other tracks.

Generally the album lacks the charm and inventive songwriting of Barrett’s and apart from his own “Jugband Blues” and Roger Waters’ “Corporal Clegg” there is really not much left of the early Pink Floyd approach.

On the other hand the album leaves more space for the other members, not least bassist Roger Waters, and the album has clear indication of what was to come in the future. “Let there Be More Light” almost sounds like an outtake from later albums such as “Dark Side of the Moon” or “Obscured by Clouds”.

Keyboard-player Rick Wright wrote quiet songs for the album. “Remember a Day” is quite a nice tune and by far the strongest of the two. “See Saw” is more or less forgettable. The title track is an extensive 12 minutes instrumental - more or less random sounds that eventually ( app. 8 minutes ) develops into a nice organ chord progression - actually a pretty longwinded wait.

Compared to their debut album, most people probably will find “A Saucerful of Secrets” a disappointment, but the album has its moments, especially when the presence of Barrett shines through. At any rate the album gives a great insight to the musical transition the band went through when Barrett had to let go of his leadership.

https://www.angelfire.com/nv/Badfinger/BANDpinkfloyd.html

I do not see the appeal in this record. It feels very dull and there isn't much going on for the majority of the time the record is on. For example, on the title track it is 12 minutes long and nothing really happens. I can understand minimalist music but even that goes somewhere unlike on this track. The rest of the album is pretty similar except for the opening song which I think is great. I am also not a huge fan of Corporal Clegg and it makes me awkward whenever I hear it as it feels so out of place. This record also lacks the experimentation and the colourful instrumentation we receive on other Floyd projects making this feel very monotone and boring. There are obvious glimpses of the bands quality that shine through but it isn't enough to redeem the album for me. Overall, I have listened to this album several times and it always leave me feeling disappointed and in my opinion it is one of the weaker Pink Floyd albums. (Edited)

From ExTeaSea TOP 100 COMMENTER 04/11/2022 08:33 | #284018

Love this! Easily the darkest and most haunting Pink Floyd album that's actually listenable on the reg unlike the nightmarish far less reached for album that is Ummagumma. That too is dark/haunting but I rarely listen to it because it's almost too experimental lol. Saucerful and Obscured by Clouds are their most underrated. (Edited)

This is the best Pink Floyd 60s output, some beautiful tracks on here and more accesible than predecessor.