Category:
Rock

Try if you like:
Eire Apparent, Grateful Dead, Jethro Tull, Jimi Hendrix, King Crimson, Queen, Sun Ra, Tangerine Dream, Yes

Growing up, I learned a passion about music and it was mostly due to Pink Floyd.  Watching as my parents enjoyed the music with a subtle intensity, it was of course, albums like "The Wall" or "Dark Side Of The Moon" that began my education of this legendary and unstoppable formation.  But as I began to dig around the household collection, I find this eery, yet plain blue covered disc. A short release from Pink Floyd, their sixth album, Meddle.

I will not lie, the first few minutes I ever spent with this CD had my short attention (12-years-old) span skipping ahead to more traditional feedings like "Fearless (You'll never walk alone)". The best song on this album and arguably the best available in a long career. Mellow vocals, partnered with a gritty and commanding riff that can never be mistaken for any other song. A bridge leads the  final verse. With tone and caution David Gilmour sings "Fearlessly the idiot faced the crowd, smiling" The track ends with the Liverpool F.C. Kop choir singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" Following that track is a  terrific blend of piano and acoustic jazz ditty with an undeniable groove, much like the rest of the CD.  For instance, track five, "Seamus", which features piano backbone, jangling like guitar production and howling dog to boot.

Although there's only six tracks here, Outside of "Seamus" (2:16) and "San Tropez" (3:44), most are your traditional five minutes or more.  Such as the opening track, which beats down like an impending something.  A contagious bass run to start, some terrific production on the guitar work and a voice intro that could seem familiar to those fans of The Wall. "One of these days, I'm going to cut you into little pieces". Few know, but this is actually drummer Nick Mason with a bit of creative mixing. After that stir of instrumentation is the slow and soft "A Pillow Of Winds", and is reportedly a reference to Mahjong of all things.  The melodies are mystical and unique while Gilmour's vocals are glorious and slightly peppered in.

Songs like "San Tropez" are what you offer to someone who has been living under a rock and never experienced the traditional song-writing of Pink Floyd. Tasty and without a boring moment, this jazz, upbeat track will have you bouncy for days. 

The closing "track" and entire side B if you have the vinyl is a monster song entitled "Echoes", and its everything you can imagine a song titled "Echoes" would be.  A phenomenal showing of collaboration between some of the finest musicians ever to gather. Deep, dark, melodic and without patience for your awe. Less a song and more the beginnings of a band so cohesive and on it's way to epic songs and stories. The first seven minutes are anchored by a daunting drum performance and mesmerizing Gilmour as he whispers the story of the land. Then right around 30 % through, a cocky transition occurs where the path is laid for a monsterous guitar solo and organ feel. The next portion of the song involves seagulls and what may sound to be whale migrating.  Some speculate this track can be synchronized to the final segment in Stanley Kubrick's, 2001: A Space Odyssey. From there the song comes round full circle as it began and your daze is complete.

Positively, one of the most over-looked albums in the history of Rock, muchless the catalogue of one group. Pink floyd truly affixed themselves as masters of their craft.  If you're looking to get acquainted with the early days of Floyd, this is the classic recording to do so.