The Syd Barrett Estate, along with Syd Barrett Music Ltd, has launched an official YouTube channel to highlight the late Pink Floyd man’s solo work. Watch the official video trailer of the channel through the YouTube player below:
The first videos to appear on the channel are animated films for “Terrapin” – originally the opening song on Barrett‘s first solo album, 1970’s “The Madcap Laughs” – plus “Dark Globe” from the same album, and “Dominoes” from the follow-up, “Barratt.” The channel is working with Swedish animator Alex Teglbjaerg to bring the songs to life.
Watch the official lyric video for the track “Terrapin” through the YouTube player below:
“Terrapin” is the opening song on Syd Barrett‘s first solo album “The Madcap Laughs.” Its arrangement is sparse, like much of the album, and features only acoustic and electric guitar accompaniment to the vocals. This song, along with “Maisie” and “Bob Dylan Blues;” reflected Barrett‘s early interest in the Blues. Iggy the Eskimo, one of Barrett‘s acquaintances, had called the song “quite catchy.”
The song reappeared on the Harvest Records compilation “Picnic – A Breath of Fresh Air” and is The Madcap Laughs‘ sole representative on The Peel Session.
The Syd Barrett Appreciation Society titled its official magazine Terrapin (published 1972–1976), in tribute to the song.
Recording
Preparing Madcap, in April 1969, Barrett played demo tapes of songs to producer Malcolm Jones,[at the latter’s request. After the playbacks, Barrett performed, on guitar, several tracks for Jones, one being “Terrapin.” The album version was recorded in just one take on 11 April. The lead guitar was overdubbed on 26 April.
Personnel:
Syd Barrett / Vocals, Acoustic and Electric Guitars
Malcolm Jones / Producer
Watch the official lyric video for the track “Dominoes” through the YouTube player below:
“Dominoes” is the third song on “Barrett” – the second and final studio album released by Syd Barrett in 1970
“Dominoes” features imagery of regret and recollection in the lyrics. The song features a backwards guitar solo by Barrett, and organ and Wurlitzer by Wright. The song’s “You and I” lyric refers to the tail end relationship Barrett had with Lindsay Korner.
The first of three songs on the album which lyrics point to anguish (“In my tears, my dreams“). Barrett performed the song for Bob Harris‘ show in 1971.
Watch the official lyric video for the track “Dark Globe” through the YouTube player below:
Syd Barrett recorded “Dark Globe” and other songs during a session held on 12 June 1969, with producers David Gilmour and Roger Waters.
Despite both Gilmour and Waters considering the song finished, Barrett recorded the song a third time towards the end of the session.
The version recorded at the start of the session was the one released on the finished album.
On 26 July 1969 Barrett recorded “Dark Globe” again. This take was titled “Wouldn’t You Miss Me” on the recording sheet. The track, along with two others, was mixed on August 6 of the same year.
Personnel:
Syd Barrett / Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
David Gilmour / Producer
In a statement, the Estate said: “The channel is a natural extension of Syd Barrett’s existing online presence and will consist of artistic interpretations of his solo music, with accompanying music and lyrics. Together with the Swedish animator, Alex Teglbjaerg, known as The Artist on the Border, there will be new animated music videos released on an ongoing basis. It will initially focus on the solo songs which originally appeared on An Introduction To Syd Barrett (2010).
There isn’t all that much filmed Syd Barrett out there,” says Peter Barrett on behalf of the Barrett family. “You’ve already seen most of the material and the few bits that pop up are quickly placed in the digital public domain. We want to take his quirky and poetic lyrics and translate them into images.”
Animator Teglbjaerg adds: “I try to take the listener into a Syd Barrett dream of sorts. Syd was a craftsman when it came to writing intriguing lyrics for his songs. Many times utilising cut-up techniques. That’s what I am attempting to do as well. I take what we take for granted, Syd in a room with painted floorboards and find a way to discover more. Not just zoom in, I try to immerse the viewer in that room by using collages and elements from multiple sources. But in the end, the focus is not on the visuals themselves. It lies in Syd’s music and lyrics.“
Late last month a trailer for a new Syd Barrett documentary was launched. “Have You Got It Yet? The Story Of Syd Barrett And Pink Floyd“ has been directed by film maker and former Punk Rocker Roddy Bagawa and the late Storm Thorgerson, who’s Hipgnosis design company were responsible for many of Pink Floyd‘s iconic album sleeves.
