Unearth this Relic
5
By Kerouaction
During the early days of Punk, Johnny Rotten was famed for his "I hate Pink Floyd" T-shirt. Ironically, the Sex Pistols tried to enlist the band's founder, the elusive Syd Barrett, to produce their first album. Why? Because the '67-era Floyd were every bit as groundbreaking as the Pistols were in '77.
Proof comes in the form of Relics, re-released as part of Capitol's remastering of the group's back catalog. A collection of singles and album tracks, this disc kicks off with three Barrett diamonds, "Arnold Layne," the awe-inspiring "Interstellar Overdrive," and "See Emily Play." Barrett's drug-induced psychological breakdown led to his replacement by David Gilmour in 1968, but not before he graced Rick Wright's "Remember a Day" with mournfully loopy slide guitar work.
Relics' Roger Waters-era highlights include "Cirrus Minor," "The Nile Song," and a personal favorite, "Careful With That Axe, Eugene." The disc closes with Barrett's "Bike," further proof that Syd wasn't like the rest of us anymore.
Relics surprises at every turn, mixing pop songcraft, avant-garde deconstructionism, and eerie melody. It's a much-needed boarding pass to a place few minds have dared journey.
