MEDDLE

Meddle was a groundbreaking work for Pink Floyd, chiefly because of the amazing 23+ minute Echoes featuring some of the most wonderful guitar experimentation ever done. Gilmour was a genius on this instrument and Echoes showcases some of the most unusual sounds ever produced by one. Pure space music. The section with the soaring echoed parts and wind will take you off to some far-off unexplored planet. Gilmour also makes effective use of delay, a precursor to much of what he did on The Wall and possibly one of the earliest uses of this technique to make this sound (maybe Hillage did it first?).

In addition to the side-long track, the group puts together five short tracks for side A of the album, starting off with the driving instrumental One of These Days, one of their most popular tracks and concert favorites. A Pillow of Winds, Fearless, and San Tropez are also great songs with San Tropez being a piano-driven lounge-like song. The only weak track is Seamus, which is slow and lazy featuring dog barks and howling. A far cry from their future release of Animals; here it's just filler.

With or without Seamus, Meddle is easily a five-star masterpiece, chiefly because of Echoes. Highly recommended and a great place to start if you haven't heard any of the group's pre-Dark Side material.