Yes, 'The Piper at the Gates of Dawn' is undoubtedly imbued with the effects of LSD, and is one of the first true paradigms of psychedelic rock, however, for me, this album will always be Syd Barrett's immortalisation of childhood. The 'eccentric' Floyd frontman presents a wonderful array of withdrawn, introspective and seemingly naïve imagery, with lyrics that are dreamlike, unearthly and peculiarly ominous: appositely reflecting the process of childhood and growing up, in my opinion.
Due to this masterpiece, Barrett's first and last Floyd album, he will always remain a childlike genius in my eyes, not the drug-ravaged recluse the media gleefully portrayed him as. This album has made Syd eternal, and has simultaneously encapsulated memories of my own childhood. Songs such as: 'Bike', 'Scarecrow' and 'Lucifer Sam', illustrate the boundlessness of existence when young, yet also creepily depict the portentous nature of one's youth, and this is cleverly echoed in the cacophonous nature of tracks such as 'Astronomy Domine' and 'Interstellar Overdrive'.
Furthermore, this album also showcases Pink Floyd as brilliant musical innovators, in particular, Barrett's creative, dissonant guitar passages, such as those found on the expansive epic, 'Interstellar Overdrive'. Keyboardist, Rick Wright, also contributes significantly, most notably with eerie organ interludes, such as those which punctuate 'Matilda Mother' and 'Scarecrow', accentuating the psychedelic element of the music.
As long as people keep appreciating this album, Syd Barrett will live on forever. The music industry owes him a massive debt for his enterprising, beautifully ethereal work, and he must never be forgotten.