MEDDLE

Is Meddle a transition to later Pink Floyd compositions or a cumlmination of early Floyd? I'm not sure which description is more accurate. Tracks like "One of these Days" and "Echoes" are the result of a musical style that was inspired by Roger "Syd" Barrett on the "Piper at the Gates of Dawn" album. Instrumentals like "Pow R. Toc H." and "Intersteller Overdrive" would start weaving several musical threads at the beginning of these compositions. Somewhere in the middle, the thread would start to unwind into a cacaphonous tangle, only to be re-wound and re-packaged towards the end of the composition. A mastering of this style would finally be realized on the Meddle album with the 23-1/2 minute long "Echoes". In that regard, it was the germination of the seed planted by Barrett four or so years earlier, and a culmination of the early Floyd style. Yet, with Waters clearly emerging as the band leader, you also get a sense of the direction the band will take just a couple of years in the future, which is what gives Meddle its transitional, and very unique character. The songs may not be as conceptually linked to each other as with later Floyd albums, but the general mood flows well between each, even between songs that could be considered antithetical to each other.

Turning to the songs themselves, the listener is treated to one of Floyd's best instrumental jams. "One of these Days" is the perfect start to this musical journey. About two minutes prior to the close of the piece, it climaxes, and holds the pinnacle for nearly the entire remaining two minutes. As the instrumental frenzy eases up at the end of the composition, it merges easily into the soft "Pillow of Winds". "Fearless" follows seamlessly, and lifts the listener's mood with a melodious and memorable acousitic guitar rhythm licks and hopeful lyrics. While many critics pan the leisurly "San Tropez", it creates a carefree mood with memorable and enjoyable bottle-neck guitar and piano solos. The only tune on the whole album that could be considered "throw- away" is "Seamus". While some might enjoy the musical novelty of a dog howling to the blues, the novelty wears off quickly. I can honestly say that it's the only song I'll ever skip during a listening of this album, though I do occasionally listen to it. It's not a horrible song, and it is a bit humorous. But it would ultimately keep me from giving this album 5 stars.

And, finally, "Echoes". Whether culmination of a previous Floyd genre, or the transition to a new one, no song could steal away your breath so completely. The hypnotic, driving, yet fun, guitar leads and solos, the harmoneous vocals, the lyrical and musical imagery, the climax and re-threading of the music during the epilogue--this song has got it all. How can you go wrong with lyrics like this:

"Cloudless every day you fall upon my waking eyes, Inviting and inciting me to rise, And through the window in the wall, Comes streaming in on sunlight wings, A million bright ambassadors of morning."

Echoes is truly a musical masterpiece. For that reason alone (though there are many others), Meddle deserves to be in the collection of every progressive rock music fan. And for Floyd fans who do not have this ablum in their collection, all I can say is that they're living in sin! =)