Pink Floyd – BBC Sessions: Volume Two Review

Further BBC Sessions with the legendary Pink Floyd pick up where the first volume left off. These may be bootleg releases, but make no mistake, there is a chronology to these compilations. It sets the scene for BBC Sessions: Volume Two well enough, a chance to hear the final days of Syd Barrett as a member of the band and their steady and assured transition away from psychedelic rock into more progressive tones. That much will always be an interesting listen, and while official releases like Ummagumma and the rarities compilation, Relics, do the band’s transitional period justice, dedicated listeners may want to dig that little bit deeper. BBC Sessions: Volume Two does just that, and it’s a real thrill to hear how those Piper at the Gates of Dawn and A Saucerful of Secrets songs come together outside of the studio. Tricky pieces, intricate details which bring the songs to life, that’s what they’re dependent on. BBC Sessions: Volume Two is a fascinating listen because it shines a light on the subtleties of Pink Floyd’s sound. 

Take compilation opener Astronomy Domine as an example of that subtlety in practice. You can hear a focus on Nick Mason’s drumming and the droning sound which masks the vocal work, that’s what becomes the feature of it here. It’s no better or worse than the studio version because the core of the song remains very much the same, but the little details are what matter most. Short and sweet to start with but then the flow of some more experimental work, which was what Pink Floyd wished to showcase during these live performances and rarity showcases, take over. Flaming is pretty brief but it fits into what other bands of the time were doing, just throwing a few strange instrumentals in there and kicking the surrealist rocks around the place. Lots of moving parts but very little in the way of real quality. But that’s the song itself, rather than the recording. 

For those who want a new look into Pink Floyd in their psychedelic phase, you would be hard-pressed to find a better bootleg than BBC Sessions: Volume Two. There’s plenty of variety within and much of it, like an instrumental titled Murderotic Woman that’ll sound very familiar to those who listen to early Pink Floyd frequently, is a learning experience. All of it is of a very solid recording quality too, which is crucial when it comes to listening into the little nuances and changes of these songs. Let There Be More Light and Point Me at the Sky are particular highlights, two songs which embody the psychedelic form Pink Floyd had used on their first two albums. Crucially, though, Let There Be More Light, is an early opportunity to hear the vocal direction of the band. They’d drop these matched-up instrumental notes and head in a far more fluid, improvisational direction.  

It’d make all the difference in the years to come, but to truly appreciate the all-time greats of the band, it’s worth heading into a song like Let There Be More Light, The Beatles’ influence on Roger Waters and Barrett as clear as can be here. Beyond that, there’s some remarkable guitar work and some instrumental renditions worth hearing. BBC Sessions: Volume Two features plenty in the way of quality deep cuts from the early years. It’s more for the fan wanting to learn more about the band in those Barrett-led days, but you can hear a slight shift of power, with Waters taking on more of the writing. Certainly, songs like Carry That Axe, Eugene, would be exemplary in showcasing what Waters could do for the band, and these early versions shine a light on that phenomenally.