David Gilmour Recorded a Brilliant Blues Album
On his fifth album, Luck and Strange, 78-year-old David Gilmour, former frontman of Pink Floyd, reflects on his mortality with quiet despair, but also with many iconic guitar solos wrapped in stunning sound production.
Why didn't David Gilmour release his last three albums, including this one, under the Pink Floyd banner? The answer is complicated. The concert mega-circus surrounding Pink Floyd may not have entirely suited him; maybe in response to a monumental tour full of light shows, the singer and guitarist made his very first (and underrated) solo guitar debut and for the first time showed the public that without his poetic guitar playing, Pink Floyd's music would be incredibly impoverished.
This might have only increased Waters' imperious attacks and the absurd artistic resentment that makes him repeat over and over again, like a broken record, that Pink Floyd would never have succeeded without his ideas. However, on A Momentary Lapse of Reason and The Divison Bell, Gilmour and his bandmates have already proven that "God Waters" is not irreplaceable, and that, compared to Roger's solo career, which actually includes only four full-length studio albums over the course of forty years, their legacy is ultimately more profound than Roger claims. And on Luck and Strange that legacy is beautifully audible.
Among the plethora of rock guitarists, David's blues is recognisable from a mile away. Combined with his wife Polly Samson's lyrics, the music is imbued with fragility, meditative lines and superb solos. Luck and Strange is a record that, after multiple listening sessions, can induce a blissful state of listening nirvana.
Like every Gilmour record, even this one opens with an instrumental intro – this time, it is called "Black Cat". A broodingly restless guitar solo with piano accompaniment sets the scene for the title track "Luck and Strange," a bluesy epic that features Rick Wright on the keyboard – the recording was made in 2007 before he died. His keyboard is also captured on the "Barn Jam" bonus track. The free improvisation in 3/4 time signature is a nostalgic ride, a dream of the post-war world order and an ominous darkness that can yet be overcome.
On the other hand, the acoustic "The Piper's Call" is a brisk ballad with playful percussion and vibraphone. Choppy guitar riffs with a pompous groove dominate the rocky "Dark and Velvet Nights" and dreamy "Sings" features Gilmour's powerful vocals. Surprisingly, in the cover version of "Between Two Points" by The Montgofier Brothers, it is Gilmore's 22-year-old daughter Romana who stands behind the microphone, but David's contrasting voice is noticeably missing.
On the contrary, in the bonus track "Yes, I Have Ghosts", released long before "Luck and Strange", you can feel the perfect vocal tension between daughter and father. The album finale "Scattered" is another emotional farewell to youth, the dying of the light, with a pompous guitar solo and a melodramatic piano climax.
What can you appreciate about the album as musicians?
From start to finish, Luck and Strange is infused with Gilmour's signature guitar style, which is both subtle and deep. David creates worlds through music that is both melancholic and uplifting. While introspective and gentle melodies seem to dominate, there is no shortage of dynamic moments that bring the necessary energy contrast. We can find a variety of influences on this album, from blues to rock riffs, to moody ambient tracks, showing the diversity of Gilmour's musical interests.
In regards to lyrics, Luck and Strange is a very mature album. Gilmour deals with themes of fate, luck and unexpected life changes. These motives are handled with a subtlety and personal depth that makes the listener think and reflect on life. Combined with Gilmour's distinctive, calm and warm voice, the lyrics are as evocative as the music.
One of the main strengths of the album is its coherence. Even though the tracks are musically different, the whole project feels unified. This shows that Gilmour knew exactly what he wanted to convey with the album, and created a cohesive musical experience that naturally takes the listener from one song to the next. There is no sense of trying to top previous achievements, but rather a desire for authenticity and artistic freedom.
David Gilmour – Luck and Strange
Sony Music, 00:61:00
rock/blues
90 %
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