0307. Syd Barrett
The Madcap Laughs

Given what I know about Syd Barret I got a little bit worried as this one showed up, I mean, what if it's like Oar? An album by a person who'd obviously lost it.
And when Terrapin starts I sort of get my worries confirmed, cause this isn't a coherent musician that's in the studio. Fellow Pink Floyders Dave Gilmour and Roger Waters (okay, they were still in the band and Syd was not) co-produced he majority of the album. Or "produced" by the way, it sounds more like they just were there to see to it that the tapes were rolling and Barret didn't try to crack open his skull to show everyone his thoughts.

The band can't keep up with the Barret's erratic lead, and since they were only give one chance to record, the result is the logical step from illogical sessions: a mess.
Long Gone is the most coherent of the tracks as it seems that the structure was traditional enough that the other musicians actually could anticipate Barrett's next move and actually play along. In stark contrast Long Gone's followed by a triplet of songs which are more like sketches of sketches where the tape was just rolling and Syd kinda wandered off in his mind.

The money put into recording this would have been better spent on getting him a diagnose and treatment. Shame on everyone involved.