SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DAVID GILMOUR – LUCK AND STRANGE

DAVID GILMOUR
LUCK AND STRANGE
SONY MUSIC

Luck And Strange is David Gilmour’s first studio album in nearly ten years. Gilmour hinted that 2015’s Rattle That Lock was his swan song, thankfully it was not. As good as that album is, Luck And Strange is an even stronger album. Luck And Strange was produced by Gilmour and Charlie Andrew (Alt-J). This is an excellent collaboration as Andrew pushed Gilmour a little out of his comfort zone and the end result is a fantastic album with trademark Gilmour music but a great deal of new layered sounds that add to the over ambience of the album and the music.

The album opens with a very laid-back instrumental, “Black Cat”, which is a very interesting way to open an album that fans have waited for for many years. But then, Gilmour is no stranger to sequencing albums so there is a slight build up and fans can enjoy the anticipation for the voice and guitar to break out.  “A Single Spark” owes a lot to his work with The Orb, while “Sings” has a very Pink Floyd feel to it, and will no doubt become a fan favourite. The bottom line is that there are a lot of different sounds and styles found on Luck And Strange.

A song like “The Piper’s Call” is a very sparse song that slowly builds but the sound is never overpowering. The use of guitar in the song is absolutely stunning as Gilmour’s solo is artistic and emotional. Vocally, Gilmour has never sounded better. “Dark And Velvet Nights” has a much harder sound. Yet it has a very accessible sound and sounds like an old familiar song, and yet it is very different. The song shifts and turns many times. It is a very brilliant song. “Between Two Points” features Gilmour’s daughter, Romany, on vocals. She also plays harp, while her dad plays a trademark, slow Gilmour solo. It is a beautiful song.

Overall, while Gilmour is not entirely breaking new ground or re-inventing himself, Luck And Strange is an album that still has a lot of surprises and lots for fans to enjoy. As with every album Gilmour has made it really is not intended to enjoy in pieces but rather, dim the lights and get lost in Luck And Strange. There are a number of versions of the album, and some include two bonus songs, “Yes I Have Ghosts (With Romany Gilmour)” and “Luck And Strange—Original Barnyard Jam”. “Yes I Have Ghosts” has been released previously as a single and as a song to accompany Samson’s most recent novel A Theatre For Dreamers. It is a heartbreaking and brilliant song and it does fit well musically and lyrically with Luck And Strange. Gilmour has put together a brilliant album, one that he should be very proud of and hearing it performed live will be a treat for those lucky enough to catch him on his upcoming tour.

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