The Piper at the Gates of Dawn de Pink Floyd
Álbum de Pink Floyd
- Fecha de lanzamiento: 5 de Agosto de 1967
- Sello Discográfico: Columbia
- Compositores: Syd Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, Nick Mason
- Productores: Norman Smith
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn es un álbum de Pink Floyd, publicado en 1967 por Columbia. El disco incluye 11 canciones, entre ellas «Astronomy Domine», «Lucifer Sam», «Matilda Mother» y «Flaming».
The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, el álbum debut de Pink Floyd, lanzado en 1967, es una de las obras fundacionales del rock psicodélico y un punto de inflexión en la historia de la música. Compuesto casi en su totalidad por el genio visionario y errático de Syd Barrett, el álbum es un viaje caprichoso y surrealista a través de cuentos de hadas, el espacio exterior y las profundidades de la psique. Su sonido, que fusiona melodías pop infantiles con disonancias experimentales y largos pasajes instrumentales, era radicalmente diferente a todo lo que se había escuchado hasta entonces. Es el único álbum de la banda creado bajo el liderazgo indiscutible de Barrett y sigue siendo un documento esencial de la efervescencia creativa del "Verano del Amor" de 1967.
Antes de entrar al estudio
En 1967, Pink Floyd se había convertido en la banda insignia de la escena underground y psicodélica de Londres, gracias a sus innovadores espectáculos de luces y sus largas improvisaciones en clubes como el UFO. Tras firmar con EMI, entraron en los legendarios estudios de Abbey Road para grabar su primer LP. El proceso de grabación coincidió, de manera casi mágica, con el de The Beatles, que estaban en el estudio de al lado grabando "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band".
La producción corrió a cargo de Norman Smith, quien había sido el ingeniero de sonido de The Beatles. Smith tuvo el desafío de traducir la energía caótica y experimental de los directos de los miembros de Pink Floyd al formato de un álbum de pop. Para ello, utilizó técnicas de estudio vanguardistas, como el eco, la reverberación y la manipulación de cintas, para crear los paisajes sonoros que Barrett imaginaba. La salud mental de Syd Barrett ya comenzaba a deteriorarse durante las sesiones, un presagio de su trágica salida de la banda un año después.
Claves musicales y temáticas
El sonido de "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" es una dicotomía fascinante. Contiene canciones pop cortas y pegadizas con una sensibilidad casi infantil, como "Bike" o "The Gnome". El álbum se sumerge en largos y caóticos instrumentales de space rock como "Interstellar Overdrive", que con su riff disonante y sus improvisaciones libres, era una representación sonora del caos de un viaje de LSD.
Temáticamente, el álbum está impregnado del mundo de fantasía de Barrett. Las letras, inspiradas en cuentos infantiles (el título del álbum está tomado de un capítulo del libro "El viento en los sauces"), el I Ching y la exploración espacial, son surrealistas y poéticas, pintando un universo único y personal.
Desglose de temas
El álbum se abre con la majestuosa y espacial "Astronomy Domine", una de las piedras angulares del space rock, que transporta al oyente a un viaje por el cosmos. "Lucifer Sam" es un rock psicodélico con un riff descendente y una letra misteriosa sobre el gato de Syd. "Matilda Mother" es un ejemplo perfecto de la fusión de melodía pop con atmósferas psicodélicas.
La pieza central del álbum es la improvisación instrumental de casi diez minutos "Interstellar Overdrive", un tour de force de rock experimental que capturaba la esencia de sus caóticos directos. La encantadora y extraña "Bike" cierra el álbum con una letra surrealista y un final de efectos de sonido cacofónicos, dejando al oyente en un estado de feliz confusión.
Salida al mercado y resultados
El álbum fue un éxito comercial en el Reino Unido, impulsado por el éxito previo de los sencillos psicodélicos "Arnold Layne" y "See Emily Play" (aunque, curiosamente, estos no se incluyeron en la versión británica del LP).
- UK Albums Chart: 6
- USA Billboard Pop Albums: 131
- Francia (SNEP): 20
Opiniones de la crítica
La crítica británica aclamó el álbum como una obra sobresaliente revolucionaria. Fue elogiado por su originalidad, su audacia y por capturar perfectamente el espíritu psicodélico de 1967. Con el tiempo, su reputación no ha hecho más que crecer, y es considerado unánimemente como uno de los mejores álbumes de debut y uno de los discos más influyentes de todos los tiempos. Es el documento esencial del genio de Syd Barrett y el punto de partida de la legendaria discografía de Pink Floyd.
Listado de Canciones
- Astronomy Domine
Letra
Lime and limpid green, a second scene A fight between the blue you once knew. Floating down, the sound resounds Around the icy waters underground. Jupiter and Saturn, Oberon, Miranda and Titania. Neptune, Titan, Stars can frighten. Lime and limpid green, a second scene A fight between the blue you once knew. Floating down, the sound resounds Around the icy waters underground. Jupiter and Saturn, Oberon, Miranda and Titania. Neptune, Titan, Stars can frighten. Blinding signs flap, Flicker, flicker, flicker blam. Pow, pow. Stairway scare, Dan Dare, who's there? Lime and limpid green, the sounds around The icy waters under Lime and limpid green, the sounds around The icy waters underground. - Lucifer Sam
Letra
Lucifer Sam, siam cat. Always sitting by your side Always by your side. That cat's something I can't explain. Ginger, ginger, Jennifer Gentle you're a witch. You're the left side He's the right side. Oh, no! That cat's something I can't explain. Lucifer go to sea. Be a hip cat, be a ship's cat. Somewhere, anywhere. That cat's something I can't explain. At night prowling sifting sand. Hiding around on the ground. He'll be found when you're around. That cat's something I can't explain. - Matilda Mother
Letra
There was a king who ruled the land. His majesty was in command. With silver eyes the scarlet eagle Showers silver on the people. Oh Mother, tell me more. Why'd'ya have to leave me there Hanging in my infant air Waiting? You only have to read the lines They're scribbly black and everything shines. Across the stream with wooden shoes With bells to tell the king the news A thousand misty riders climb up Higher once upon a time. Wandering and dreaming The words have different meaning. Yes they did. For all the time spent in that room The doll's house, darkness, old perfume And fairy sories held me high on Clouds of sunlight floating by. Oh Mother, tell me more Tell me more. Aaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaah - Flaming
Letra
Alone in the clouds all blue Lying on an eiderdown. Yippee! You can't see me But I can you. Lazing in the foggy dew Sitting on a unicorn. No fair, you can't hear me But I can you. Watching buttercups cup the light Sleeping on a dandelion. Too much, I won't touch you But then I might. Screaming through the starlit sky Travelling by telephone. Hey ho, here we go Ever so high. Alone in the clouds all blue Lying on an eiderdown. Yippee! You can't see me But I can you. - Pow R.Toc H.
- Take Up Thy Stethoscope And Walk
Letra
Doctor doctor! I'm in bed Achin' head Gold is lead Choke on bread Underfed Gold is lead Jesus bled Pain is red Are goon Grow go Greasy spoon You swoon June bloom Music seems to help the pain Seems to cultivate the brain. Doctor kindly tell your wife that I'm alive - flowers thrive - realize - realize Realize. - Interstellar Overdrive
- The Gnome
Letra
I want to tell you a story About a little man If I can. A gnome named Grimble Grumble. And little gnomes stay in their homes. Eating, sleeping, drinking their wine. He wore a scarlet tunic, A blue green hood, It looked quite good. He had a big adventure Amidst the grass Fresh air at last. Wining, dining, biding his time. And then one day - hooray! Another way for gnomes to say Hoooooooooray. Look at the sky, look at the river Isn't it good? Look at the sky, look at the river Isn't it good? Winding, finding places to go. And then one day - hooray! Another way for gnomes to say Hoooooooooray. Hooooooooooooooray. - Chapter 24
Letra
A movement is accomplished in six stages And the seventh brings return. The seven is the number of the young light It forms when darkness is increased by one. Change returns success Going and coming without error. Action brings good fortune. Sunset. The time is with the month of winter solstice When the change is due to come. Thunder in the other course of heaven. Things cannot be destroyed once and for all. Change returns success Going and coming without error. Action brings good fortune. Sunset, sunrise. A movement is accomplished in six stages And the seventh brings return. The seven is the number of the young light It forms when darkness is increased by one. Change returns success Going and coming without error. Action brings good fortune. Sunset, sunrise. - Scarecrow
Letra
The black and green scarecrow as everyone knows Stood with a bird on his hat and straw everywhere. He didn't care. He stood in a field where barley grows. His head did no thinking His arms didn't move except then the wind cut up Rough and mice ran around on the ground He stood in a field where barley grows. The black and green scarecrow is sadder than me But now he's resigned to his fate 'Cause life's not unkind - he doesn't mind. He stood in a field where barley grows. - Bike
Letra
I've got a bike. You can ride it if you like. It's got a basket, a bell that rings and Things to make it look good. I'd give it to you if I could, but I borrowed it. You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world. I'll give you anything, ev'rything if you want things. I've got a cloak. It's a bit of a joke. There's a tear up the front. It's red and black. I've had it for months. If you think it could look good, then I guess it should. You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world. I'll give you anything, ev'rything if you want things. I know a mouse, and he hasn't got a house. I don't know why. I call him Gerald. He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse. You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world. I'll give you anything, ev'rything if you want things. I've got a clan of gingerbread men. Here a man, there a man, lots of gingerbread men. Take a couple if you wish. They're on the dish. You're the kind of girl that fits in with my world. I'll give you anything, ev'rything if you want things. I know a room of musical tunes. Some rhyme, some ching. Most of them are clockwork. Let's go into the other room and make them work.