David Gilmour, ‘Luck and Strange’: Album Review

David Gilmour’s Solo Journey: A Reflection of the Times

Double Bookends of an Era

The previous two albums released by David Gilmour – the 2015 solo record "Rattle That Lock" and Pink Floyd’s "The Endless River", out a year earlier – double as snapshots of the time. Both conceived after the death of original Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright in 2008, the LPs serve as double bookends to an era the singer and guitarist was ready to close.

From Meditation to Melancholy

Scatterings since then – a 2017 live album culled from a 2016 concert, a 2020 single, and a one-off Floyd reunion song with drummer Nick Mason in 2022 in support of Ukraine’s effort against the Russian invasion – have moved away from the predominantly meditative work that peaked with the mostly instrumental "Endless River". But with his fifth solo album, "Luck and Strange", Gilmour returns to a thoughtful and occasional melancholy stage, undoubtedly spurred by the events of the past several years, especially the pandemic.

A Musical and Thematic Center

That 2020 song, "Yes, I Have Ghosts", is a bonus track on deluxe editions of "Luck and Strange" and underlines the album’s musical and thematic center. Cowritten with wife Polly Samson and featuring vocals by daughter Romany Gilmour, both of whom contribute throughout the LP, it’s a summoning of spirits from the past. But with the aid of Alt-J producer Charlie Andrew, who pushed Gilmour to try something new, "Luck and Strange" often draws the singer and guitarist away from fixed expectations.

A Balance Between Familiarity and Innovation

That doesn’t mean Pink Floyd has been entirely wiped from the album; Gilmour’s powerful and flowing solos in "The Piper’s Call" and the seven-and-a-half-minute closing song "Scattered" can’t help but recall celebrated moments from the band’s catalog. Neither can the slippery "Dark and Velvet Nights". But the emphasis here is on coming to terms with aging and mortality (see: "A Single Spark"), which are persistent reminders that have been even more nagging since the pandemic. As Gilmour sings on the bluesy title track, "In the light before the dawn, shadows snake in my peripheral".

The Gateway to a New Chapter

The 90-second instrumental intro "Black Cat" is the gateway to "Luck and Strange", with its softly stinging guitar and delicate piano, a preemptive nudge signaling Gilmour’s steps into somewhat unfamiliar territory ("A Single Spark" again). "Between Points", a cover of a 1999 song by British dream-pop duo the Montgolfier Brothers sung by Romany, is the album’s biggest left turn, though it shares a thread with Pink Floyd’s more anodyne recordings. Through it all Gilmour sounds in fine voice, its still-rich warmth driving home the poignancy of many of the songs; his luminous guitar is even better, averting a total break from the past.

Conclusion

If "Luck and Strange" suggests Gilmour’s future, it will be a bright one, even in the darkness. As an artist, Gilmour continues to explore new territory, yet still finds a way to weave together his signature sound and the emotions of the present moment.

FAQs

• Who is David Gilmour?
  David Gilmour is a British singer, songwriter, and guitarist best known for his work as a member of the iconic rock band Pink Floyd.
• What is the significance of "The Endless River" and "Rattle That Lock" in David Gilmour’s career?
  These two albums served as a double bookend to an era in Gilmour’s career, marking the end of Pink Floyd’s active recording era and Gilmour’s solo journey.
• Who is Richard Wright?
  Richard Wright was the keyboardist and a founding member of Pink Floyd, who passed away in 2008.
• What is the significance of "Luck and Strange" in David Gilmour’s solo career?
  "Luck and Strange" marks a new chapter in Gilmour’s solo career, as he continues to explore new sounds and themes while still paying homage to his Pink Floyd legacy.
• Who are Polly Samson and Romany Gilmour?
  Polly Samson is Gilmour’s wife, and Romany Gilmour is his daughter. Both contributed to the songwriting and vocals on "Luck and Strange".
• Who produced "Luck and Strange"?
  Charlie Andrew, a producer known for his work with Alt-J, collaborated with Gilmour to produce the album.
• What is the album’s themes and message?
  The album explores themes of aging, mortality, and the emotional resonance of the past, with a message of resilience and hope.