Classic on so many levels, MERIDIAN still stands as Ian Pooley's brightest moment. From the baroque chords of the intro and right until "Relief Action," barely a foot goes wrong on this album. "What's Your Number" goes for some broken beat funk, utilizing a moody sample to great emotional effect. "Followed" hits the 4/4 stride and, despite its length, never feels tiresome, thanks to careful layering. The initial dreaminess of "Disco Love" acts as a powerful counter to the more dance-oriented tracks, and blows up once the funk guitar gets filtered in. The more downtempo "Dawn" hints at the summery tone his later albums would take. "Cold Wait" gets us back on the floor, as it swings into high disco gear. "Floor Face Down" goes slightly more downtempo, but with plenty of groove to go around, and "Relief Action" takes things out on a more mellow note. A really outstanding album.