MEDDLE

Pink Floyd was at the very end of their psychedelic era as showed "Atom Heart Mother" the previous year. They tried to make something more complex and clever. It was difficult when we see the the concept of pieces as "Interstellar Overdrive", "A Saucerful of Secrets" and "Careful with that Axe, Eugene". But in fact with this album they succeeded. Maybe because of Waters poetry which became more evident on this album and the association between this, his good bass lines, Wright's genius on synthesitors and keyboards, Gilmour's wizardery on guitars and Mason efficient drums has been more than impressive.

The album began with "One of these days", an instrumental piece which shows Floyd trying to leave psychedelic influences. The bassline sounds great and Wright creates spacy athmospheres, Mason makes a good use of percussions, before Gimour's rageous slide guitar beats for a while. Then the rack became more enigmatic: the bass line changes and we think something sensational would happen. In fact, it happens: Mason said strongly the line: "One of these days, I'm going to cut you into little pieces!". This line became cult for lot of Floyd's fans (including myself!!). Then the song ends with slide guitar solo and Mason powerful drums beats.

After this song, critics as Robert Christigau (who doesn't like Pink Floyd and I don't like him a lot) could only say it's genius. But it's just the beginning.

The final wind effect lead to "A Pillow of Winds", a cool ballad. It's dominated by Gilmour's slide and accoustic guitars (he shows a good job as he already did on "The Narrow Way") and his sweet voice which announces the vocal wok on the following albums.

Then comes "Fearless", another folky song with emotive Gilmour's voice and also includes a great and cool guitar riff (played by Waters who claims Syd Barrett learn it to him).

Then there is "San Tropez" a jazzy song composed by Waters alone, led by his vocals, Gilmour's slide guitar and Wright's elaborate piano solos.

After comes "Seamus" a blues with Gilmour soft vocals and a... dog!!! It's surprising and some Floyd's disliked this song. But I think it's interesting because it's a sonic experimentation which would go further on other albums. This closes side A.

Side B is composed of "Echoes" a bright epic. This begins with a cristalline keyboards sounds and then come delicious synth and guitar harmonies. Then the rythm section section starts until the vocals. These are sweet and spacy from Gilmour and Wright (two underrated singers and musicians IMHO) and the lyrics are cool and surrealistics. Then comes a good slow guitar riff until a similar vocals section. Then after few synth melodies, Gilmour plays a bluesy and spacy guitar solo until the next section. This one is jazzier with a good bassline and powerful drums. Gilmour writes some memrable guitar solos during Wright's enthusisamic organ. Then the song became more experimental and remains some "Ummagumma" tracks. Wright gives to his keyboards a frightning atmosphere, during amazing Gilmour's guitar solo sounds which remains a whale (this sound was created with an inversing wah-wah pedals). The next part is pure epic. Wight plays the first notes of the song before Gilmour's busy chords. Wright gives us one his brightest synth solo (with "Shine on you crazy diamond") with effects which remains a flut, during Mason busy work on percussions. Then a keyboards riff sounds really bright when the rythm section comes back. Then great guitar glissando comes until another sweet vocals section. After the main guitar riff comes back and give the song his apotheosis. Then the keyboards quietly lands to finish the song.

This album is excellent and even Christigau writes a favorable review in Rolling Stones. Lot of bands as Pendragon, Tangerine Dream and Camel wer inspired by the dreamy and clever moods of "Meddle" and espeacialy "Echoes".

Who is the genius here? Waters the brain and the poet of the band? Gilmour the one who feels poetry? Wright the sensible heart? Mason the discrete (in studio) percussionist? All of them? Maybe... Anyway, the album anounces the brightest ever: "Dark Side of the Moon".

If you enjoy this masterpiece you have to get the epic jams of Pompeii: "Echoes" with additions of improvisations and wild sections, "One of these Days" becoming an impressive drums track and "Mademoiselle Nobs"(Seamus of course!) with Gilmour on harmonica!