PINK FLOYD/MEDDLE SHVL 795 (-71) UK

When checking the net for thoughts and reviews on this with a few exceptions there seems to be some kind of consensus it was a preparation for, or a not as good forrunner to, the band's more crowdpleasing phase with "Dark Side Of The Moon" and the three following albums. Not in my world. For me all the trials (and errors), the experimenting and sometimes be-that-as-it-may recordings from the debute up to "Obscured By Clouds" is far more rewarding than their later glossier productions. Though less chaotic than for exemple "Ummagumma" this is still old style where the impression is a couple of guys starting off with very little, but slowly braiding thoughts, ideas and impressions toghether as they go along. Elaboratedly planned recordings are not seldom stamped by the time in which they were made and can easlly get dated. This is more like cool snapshots of situations where the common texture is as important as the melodies or sound experiments and therefore in its way timeless. To me it hasn't aged at all in fortyfive years and I still use it as background to meditative moods, but also close listening for cozy moments. Frequently issued and reissued on vinyl, 8-track, cassette, CD and DVD through the years. First US on Harvest (SMAS-832). Premiere UK had label as shown here with "THE GRAMOPHONE CO. LTD." top left, "MADE IN GT. BRITAIN" inside rim below and structured fold/out cover. (PÅX*) (HÄVL*)