Gong vs Beta Band vs Syd Barrett = ?

BETA BAND > gong > syd barrett, but i like all three really.

is this meant to be an equation of some sort?

i actually discovered lone pigeon last week - i went to a gig to see gemma hayes and was impressed by the support act: james yorkston & the athletes. doing a bit of research i found that they had released a double single with lone pigeon and that lone pigeon used to actually be in the beta band before ill health forced him to leave. apparantley he's got a couple of writing credits with them, including 'dry the rain'. i've since d/l a few of his tracks from audiogalaxy and have liked what i heard..

Lone Pigeon is very good, I have two of his albums, '28 secret tracks' which was compiled in his absence by his brother (who runs fence records and also records under the guise of KIng Creosote and also well worth checking out )and has no track names lots of ideas, like an unfinished 'White Album', and the more rounded 'Moses' which is also a good listen, he has a new one called Concubine Rice which is gonna be released soon which I have a selection of MP3's of and is potentially fantastic, very Barrett in my opinion but also elements of Gong in the childlike quality of some of the melodies, and that's a compliment by the way, if you're at all interested try www.fencerecords.com the home of the pidge and his cronies, they have a good rota.