Pink Floyd "Meddle"

In this edition of “Mike Maggot’s Classic Rock Album Reviews” I’m going to tell you about one of my favourite albums. Pink Floyd’s classic album, “Meddle”.

Now to the average classic rock radio listener, Pink Floyd is “The Wall” or “Dark Side of the Moon”. But to anyone who is a true hardcore Floyd fan, “Meddle” is Pink Floyd.

Don’t get me wrong. “The Wall” is a good album…if you like four sides of thoroughly depressing post war psychosis. Me personally, I never listen to it. When I was a teenager, all of the kids that smoked said that you just had to take acid and watch the movie. I guess that’s fun if you’re already suicidal.

“Dark Side of the Moon” is definitely a must when it comes to Pink Floyd. Although, if I have to sit through “Money” one more time on the radio, there could be a hostage situation.

Now then, back to the issue at hand. “Meddle”. Recorded in 1972, this album was an obvious point of cohesion for the band. Everything finally worked. The last few albums leading up to this point were searching for their place and looking for a direction. When you take four young lads from art and architecture school, add in vast quantities of LSD, and a very liberal musical landscape, you get a rather chaotic blend of audio painting. By 1972 the Floyd had finally achieved the perfect balance of floaty and experimental music with distinct structure.

The first track, “One of These Days”, is a frightening soundscape that starts out sounding like a rather sinister episode of Doctor Who. Then the terrifying voice that informs the listener that, “one of these days I’m going to chop you into little pieces”. That’s not very positive now is it? For the rest of the song, we are treated to some serious guitar shredding hard rock. Nick Mason is literally beating the shit out of his cymbals. Not very Pink Floydy at all.

Track two is the beautiful yet haunting, “A Pillow Of Winds”. An acoustic number that just seems to drift on by. Like a warm cup of tea on a crisp sunny day. This song is about as mellow as a song can be without stopping.

The next track is titled, “Fearless” Another lilting semi-acoustic number that seems to carry on where “A Pillow of Winds” leaves off. For some reason this song has always made me think of a gladiator about to fight to his death. The song ends with a strangely spliced in English soccer chant. How odd. But quite fitting.

“SanTropez” follows in a much more jovial vein. An almost “lying in a hammock drinking margaritas” sort of feel.

Side One ends with “Seamus.” A blues number where the lads decide to use a howling dog for the lead vocals. What more can I say?

The true beauty of “Meddle” comes in the form of “Echoes” which is a 23 minute epic that displays all of what Pink Floyd can be. An entire album side of dark, brooding melody that is somehow both eerie and calming at the same time.

The track starts with a reverb soaked “ping”. Over and over. Drawing you in. Slowly the other instruments quietly join in. So subtly that you don’t even notice until the vocals start that the “ping” that caught your attention stopped over two minutes ago. The vocals are so gentle. This whole section of lyrics seems so effortless and calm. Gradually the guitar brings in a more tense atmosphere culminating in a tension building climax to the middle break. This is where things really change. Out of nowhere the bands drops into one of the coolest vamps in rock. Four minutes of slow, thumping rock with whirling, screeching guitar over top. Miles Davis would be proud.

Just when you think you’re at a Zeppelin concert, Pink Floyd reminds you who you’re listening to. The next four minutes are possibly the scariest sounds ever to hit vinyl. A murder of crows and howling wind. Yikes. But never fear, Pink Floyd likes a happy ending. With a Herculean build up, the listener is carried back to the ever so soothing verses, eventually closing out perhaps, the, finest album side of their career.

If you like Pink Floyd, do yourself a favour and pick up this album. While you’re at it, buy a copy of “Dark Side of the Moon” and “Wish You Were Here” too. All three are brilliant albums from the most creative period of a band of artists. Mike Maggot.