Meddle was an important inflection point for the band, as they started defining the sound that we know today as the trademark Pink Floyd sound, with this album. With the leader Syd Barrett gone, the lead guitarist David Gilmour took control of the direction where the band should be headed, taking the stray pieces of psychedelic elements from their past and morphing it into what came to be known as progressive rock. 

To elucidate this, let’s break the ‘review norm’ and start with Side 2 of the LP (instead of Side 1). It has just one track, a beautiful, haunting and mysterious 23 minutes long journey called Echoes. Beginning with the keyboardist Richard Wright’s ping, it has all the classic guitar turns and bends, the majestic grace and the leisurely pace associated with progressive rock (and Pink Floyd). Add to it the surreal lyrics (by Roger Waters) like, “Cloudless every day you fall upon my waking eyes / Inviting and inciting me to rise / And through the window in the wall / Come streaming in on sunlight wings / A million bright ambassadors on morning”, and you know that this is where it all came from.

Coming to Side 1, it doesn’t have the intelligence and charm of the other side but has some varied gems. It starts off with a powerful double bass led instrumental (largely), One Of These Days, which then, rather abruptly melts into Pillow Of Winds and Fearless, two beautifully delicate and dreamy ballads followed by a standard bar-room jazz shuffle, San Tropez, probably one of its kinds for the band as they never really tried something on the same lines again.

So, Meddle is not that cohesive, tightly knit later day albums of the band which we are all nicely aware of but one listening of the Side 2 and you know where they were headed. On a personal note, it’s a sentimental favourite as this was the first Floyd album, I discovered on my own, and then made many others hear the beauty in it. So, sometimes, when I feel like getting a little nostalgic I give this LP a spin and travel in time and music.

PS: The album cover is one of the weakest of all Pink Floyd album covers and even the creator Storm Thorgerson, expressed his dissatisfaction with it.

Year: 1971

Label: Harvest Records

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Meraj Hasan

Meraj Hasan is a Mumbai based communication professional (and an amateur poet/musician) with a passion for listening to music the vinyl way. His 25 year old Technics turntable along with a humble collection of LPs across genres like Classic rock, Classical, Blues and Jazz (amongst others) are his prized possessions.

He can be reached at +91 9833410791 or email: meraj.hasan@gmail.com .