By Keith Walsh
In October of last year, I received an email from my friend Stacey Swain, aka Stacey Q. All it said was “we’re saving this one.” Attached was an MP3 of her version, with SSQ (led by producer Jon St. James) of Pink Floyd’s psychedelic masterpiece from 1967, “See Emily Play.”
Stacey’s version blew me away. It’s every bit the masterpiece that the original was, but this time with 21st century synthesizers as well as a digital version of that iconic Farfisa organ. Using the studio as an instrument, Q and St. James have set a new standard for psychedelic electronic synth pop. St. James’ guitars and synths, and Swain’s delicate vocals ornament this cover, which is slightly slower and more dreamy than the original.
Yet I can’t share this music, nor has it been made available anywhere. As Stacey explained to me, there were issues with the licensing — that the licensing expenses would be prohibitive. I wanted to find a villain to pin this injustice on. “Roger,” I asked? “Roger, or….” Stacey was vague. There are no easy answers.
I wish I could just upload the file to YouTube and share that. But that would lead to other prohibitive costs, in this case payable by me. We can only hope that one day soon this unheard gem will get the attention it deserves. In the meantime, we can listen to recent music by SSQ, their album ‘Jet Town Je t’aime,’ which I dubbed the first synthpop classic of the 2020s.
Photo of Stacey Q by Alan Todd, Sept. 11, Lost 80s Live Tour, San Diego California.
Stacey Q on Facebook
SSQ On Spotify
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