Pink Floyd - The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

EMI/Columbia

August 5th, 1967.

Pink Floyd's debut album 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn' exudes a child-like manner; a carefree stance to life and all its dealings. Unaffected by the seriousness of the happenings going on all around, Piper at the Gates remains a fresh and free sliver of psychedelic splendor 55 years on from its initial release.

Rarely do bands begin at a unique point in their process. The interesting stuff tends to come later on down the line. Pink Floyd exist to dismiss this standard. Their early stage was home to unpredictable experimentation’s - it came with the territory; flamboyant escapades - charismatic individuals often do; and an output that remains divisive to this very day. To some, it succinctly wraps up the psychedelic scene in a classy but adolescent ribbon. And to others, it represents a band finding their feet in a world of ever-changing expectations and jubilant colour. Some can't make heads nor tails of it. It's this divide which makes the Floyd discography one of keen interest and enigmatic quality. Starting out with Piper at the Gates of Dawn, arguably the bands most 'out there' release, the influential fingers of Pink Floyd set the stage for what was to be an interesting career full of twists, turns and outright magic. As the saying goes, well begun is half done.

Syd Barrett's child-like take on lyrical duties and their often youthful subject matter - 'I've got a bike, you can ride it if you like' - gives early Pink Floyd an innocent feel. A madhatteresque, incalculable caliber exists within the confines of the record. The complexities that we would associate with Floyd later in their career are kept to a minimum on Piper, however breaking free from the box is as complex a task as there is. Pink Floyd were well and truly operating outside of conventions with their debut.