MEDDLE

Stylistically, Meddle is very close in sound and style to its predecessor. But this is a lot more focused and less sloppy than Atom Heart. The production is clearer, and the song-writing is simply superior. Perhaps the two most important things that make this album stand out for me are the dynamic atmosphere and mood changes throughout, and its inclusion of the epic Echoes. Though, side one is far from weak.

The album kicks off with 'One of these Days,' which is an instrumental. Roger plays a chunky bass line throughout, with Wright adding some keyboard flairs and Gilmour with some unique slide guitar. The song is very atmospheric, sometimes spooky, and has a beautifully crafted Crescendo.

'A Pillow of Winds' is an acoustic driven song with soft vocals from Gilmour and some nice keyboard touches. The song really takes you somewhere else with its relaxing atmosphere.

'Fearless' is based on a nice riff that repeats throughout. It's more upbeat, but still retains that beautiful atmosphere that is all throughout this album. My only dilemma with this song is the unneeded chanting at the end.

San Tropez is a fun, jazzy Beatles-esque number with Roger at lead vocals. Again, I like the relaxed mood of this song. Wright's "Vince Guaraldi-like" piano playing is very pleasant. Seamus is probably Floyd's worst post-Ummgumma song, and unfortunately hurts the flow of the album.

'Echoes,' in my opinion, is the best song they ever did. It is hard for me to invoke words that adequately describe how amazing this song is. The melodies are unforgettable, the atmosphere is dark and unsettling, and the mood changes are numerous and contrasting. It starts with the sharp pings of piano, and builds up slowly with Gilmour's classic whining guitar over Wright's keys. Vocals come in for only a few minutes, but provide some thought-evoking imagery. Gilmour has some of his typical amazing soloing before suddenly landing into an atypical groovy part. I really love this part; it contrasts beautifully with the rest of the album with its upbeat and happy nature, but more so because it's just fun to listen to. I can see why the middle section turns people off, but I've gotten used to it, and it offers an interesting, if a bit creepy, atmospheric dynamic. This segues flawlessly into the last 8-minutes, which contains some dramatic instrumentation and vocals to end this stunning masterpiece.

Overall, I would say Echoes is pretty much a better version of Atom Heart. There are some slightly weaker tracks, along with a grandiose epic. While this is not quite as good as Dark Side of Wish You Were Here, it is still a solid album from a confident Pink Floyd who are resting comfortably in their newly found sound.

8/10