MEDDLE

Each song is a small gem in it's own right, and "Echoes" is a masterpiece.

The song, "One of these Days" opens up the album with an extremely ominous bass-line (Actually, there are two basses playing at the same time). From then on, the song builds up momentum, culminating in "One of these days, I'm going to cut you into little pieces." and then erupting into an exhilarating guitar and organ driven section, before ending with one last ringing note on the organ. I rate the song 9/10.

Next comes the soft and sad ballad, "A Pillow of Winds". The lap steel guitar is prominent in this song. Fittingly, Gilmour has much lilt in his voice. The lyrics of course describe the relaxation of sleep, and also love to a certain extent. It's a beautiful song. (9/10)

The soaring riff at the beginning of "Fearless" is simply some of the best guitar work that the Floyd have ever done. As always, Gilmour's singing fits the bill, at once soothing and powerful. The lyrics depict bravery and individuality, as the title suggests. "Fearlessly, the idiot faced the crowd, smiling....and who's the fool who wears the crown?" (10/10)

Up next, we kick back and chill out with "San Tropez". The Floyd's little foray into lounge rock has a very catchy tune, and it's almost impossible not to sing along once you know the lyrics. There's also a nice piano solo (probably some of Rick Wright's most orthodox stuff). (9/10)

"Seamus" can be seen (and probably is seen) as the musical low of Meddle, but it's not a bad song in it's own right. A very mellow blues song, this song also features some excellent piano playing, as well as a catchy opening line ("I was in the kitchen...Seamus, that's the dog, was outside..."). The song is short, which is a good thing; there's only so much Wright's piano-playing skills can do to make the track better. (7/10)

Finally. Here we go... Pink Floyd's magnum opus has been, and always will be, "Echoes". "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" may have the interesting synths, but "Echoes" simply leaves "Shine On" behind lyrically and musically (I'm not saying "Shine On" is bad. Far from it. It's just that "Echoes" is better). The song starts with the radar-like organ, which, to me, sounds almost expectant; waiting. The opening lyrics are classic ("Overhead, the albatross hangs motionless upon the air..."), giving the immediate image of time stopping. The riff that Waters' accused Andrew Lloyd Webber of stealing enters in after the first verse, with its rising and falling. There are a few stages to the song. The first and second have already been described. The third is a steady melody that seems almost mainstream, which in turn fades into a guitar shrieking eerily in the silence. After that, the radar blip organ returns, followed by the rest of the lyrics, thus completing the cycle. Absolutely fantastic. (10/10)

For pre-Dark Side of the Moon, it doesn't get any better than this.

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