Product: London 66-67 [VHS]
Rating: 4.0
It's All About Syd
This is a review for the single DVD version.This DVD offers a rather frustrating look at Pink Floyd w/ Syd Barrett. Syd Barrett remains an elusive figure, and certainly that's always been part of his charm. Very little film/video remains of Syd Barrett playing w/ Pink Floyd, so I was eager to say the least to check this out. In my opinion, the video of "Interstellar Overdrive" is worth the price of this DVD. But be forewarned, real good looks at Syd are few and fleeting! And what becomes obvious is the ambivalence he had playing before an audience. As the singer, composer and lead guitarist, you'd expect Syd to be there, front and center. Nothing is predictable w/ Syd ever. He lurks in the shadows turned away from the audience often enough. There is Pink Floyd on an unlit stage at the UFO club where they made their mark as part of the London Underground scene. The camera zooms to Syd's face, but in the darkness, you can't see it AT ALL. Instead of "where's Waldo?" it's "where's Syd?" You will feel like a detective trying to find him.The more revealing views come during the scenes of the band jamming @ the Sound Techniques Studio. Like others have said, the audio has been remastered to perfection. As Interstellar Overdrive revs toward the finale, you see Syd, who has been curled over seated in a chair, looking up and over to Rick Wright on keyboards. That personal exchange between musicians has never been evident on stage with Pink Floyd in their entire career. They always said Syd was closest to Rick, and you see the supporting evidence right here. Then, as the song finishes, Syd throws his arm up in the air as a final flourish. There's a jump cut, and then you see Syd spent, totally curled over his guitar, enveloped in a waft of cigarette haze. It downright post-coital! Iconic, surely. Some say this version of "Interstellar Overdrive" is the definitive version. It just might be and, even if it isn't, it's still compelling music over 40 years later. What I especially like about early Floyd is the jazz influence seeping through the psychedelia.As for "Nick's Boogie," the other musical track, I overlooked it at first. Yeah, extended drum solos ain't my bag, but that would be pigeon-holing this song. Anyway, having read the liner notes for this DVD, I had to listen as Syd plays slide on this. This song's got a seriously foreboding edge to it, and somehow it brings to mind the existential anxiety of the film "Apocalypse Now." One of Syd's trademarks was his truly surreal and astral guitar, and this track is just another example. Drummer Nick Mason's accompaniment is appropriately laid back and fits in w/ Rick Wright's trippy organ as well. Listening to this, it's not hard to envision laying in the sun; it's 1966 or 67. You're a twenty-something wearing colorful paisley clothing, and you're stoned out of your mind. For sure, this was Syd's state of mind on a regular basis. So why not join in the fun?If you're a Syd Barrett fanatic like myself, I would urge you to check this out. Yeah, it could have been better, but it's still offers some of the magic.