Syd Barrett - Opel CD

Syd Barrett's legendary reclusiveness and drug damaged past tend to overshadow just what an extraordinary songwriter the man was. both 'the madcap laughs' and 'barrett' should be essentials in anyone's collection as is 1989's 'opel' collection. opel brings together alternate and rare material that syd recorded without help from the other members of pink floyd (though band members did contribute to his other two official releases). robert wyatt and most of soft machine back syd on some of opel's tracks including a thrilling full band take on 'rats'. there's killer versions of "octopus" (here titled (clowns and jugglers") and "wouldn't you miss me" (dubbed "dark globe") and the brilliant previously unheard 'swan lee (silas lang)'.