Syd Barrett - An Introduction To Syd Barrett FLAC

What quality was the Rhamadan download? 320kbps, higher or lower?

The end of 2010 and we at last see the first posthumous release of Syd Barrett material.

What lies in store for fans of the great man? Well, let's not pretend here. Vegetable Man and Scream Thy Last Scream are not included. No great surprise there, but a sad realisation all the same.

So we begin with Arnold Layne and See Emily Play. They sound as good as they ever did.

The version of Apples And Oranges here is certainly worth more intricate investigation, however. Included as the "Stereo Version", damn it sounds good! When compared with the previously available versions (right up to, and including, the second disc of the Piper At The Gates Of Dawn 2007 reissue), it really shines. No stone is left unturned in the mix, and it's surprising to hear such previously hidden sounds sparkle.

The 2010 mix of Matilda Mother is basically the alternative lyrics version that was included on the previously mentioned 2007 reissue of Piper, but this time the mix is not faded out for a good 50 seconds or so afterwards. To be honest you don't get much new material to examine, unless aimless jamming is your cup of tea.

Chapter 24 and Bike are unchanged.

Terrapin, Love You and Dark Globe sound good. A slight EQ change, they sound fuller than the previously available mixes but this is indistinguishable unless you compare side-by-side.

The 2010 remix of Here I Go sounds really weird. There's a small echo on Syd's voice, which kinda makes it feel less personal.

Next is a 2010 mix of Octopus. It starts off really well, mixing various takes (which fans of Syd's outake mixes will appreciate). Again there is quite a bit of added echo, but less obvious than on Here I Go. This mix of Octopus sounds nice, if a little too "new". Maybe I'm just too used to the older mixes?

I have no idea why the next track is called "She Took A Long COOL Look" (instead of "She Took A Long COLD Look"), perhaps I have missed something? Anyway, it sounds louder and fuller. A job well done.

If It's In You sounds fantastic too. Featuring the fascinating aborted intro, it's a similar story of warmed up acoustics without over-amplifing everything.

Baby Lemonade sounds crisper than ever, it can't be faulted.

Dominoes gets a 2010 mix. Again it benefits from deeper resonance. Not too sure why the 2010 mix suffix has been attached when it (on the surface at least) sounds identical to the previously available version, while other similarly treated tracks here are left without mix credit but all the same it's a decent job.

Gigolo Aunt, Effervescing Elephant and Bob Dylan Blues sound fine. No complaints.

That's the album.

Or is it? Well, no! For when you buy the CD you get the opportunity to download a bonus track entitled Rhamadan.

20 minutes in length, it's a freakout jam session. Good luck listening to it, I'm a massive fan of Syd and early Pink Floyd in general and I got seriously pissed off with the track after two minutes. Yeah, this is apparently worthy of inclusion on an "Introduction" to Syd Barrett. I'm not saying someone's milking hardcore Barrett fans for every penny they have but...

Okay enough said.

It's a good compilation but I see no point in buying it unless you're a total newcomer to Syd, in which case I would strongly recommend you purchase a copy of Piper At The Gates Of Dawn first. However, the chances are that you'll only find out about this compilation because you're a fan of Syd and own a great deal of his material, in which case the only reason to buy this cd is for the "Rhamadan" download and the nicely (if unessential) mixed tracks you already own.

Which is, let's be honest, not worth the price.

Vegetable Man, where are you?