Luck and Strange by David Gilmour, 2024 album.
I have spoken at length about David Gilmour , the guitar and singer of Pink Floyd , in reviews of their works and in dedicated profiles.
Luck and Strange came nine years after his previous album, Rattle That Lock, an album he himself called his best work since The Dark Side of the Moon.
The lyrics were largely written by his wife, Polly Samson, and address profound themes of mortality, aging, and the passage of time—reflections that were born and developed during the lockdown. In addition to his wife's contributions, his daughter, Romany Gilmour, also contributes, singing and playing harp on the song "Between Two Points" and taking part in backing vocals throughout the album. Their sons, Gabriel and Charlie Gilmour, also contribute to the album: Gabriel contributes backing vocals, while Charlie wrote some of the lyrics for the closing track, "Scattered."
Richard Wright contributes to the title track, which features keyboard parts recorded during a 2007 jam session at Gilmour's house.
Producer Charlie Andrew asked Gilmour to avoid his typical long, fade-out solos or overly refined guitar sounds, seeking a more immediate aesthetic. This makes the album sound leaner and more contemporary than the dreamy, orchestral atmospheres of his previous works.
Black Cat is a short instrumental that starts well with a bluesy feel and just when it seems about to explode, it ends, an intro to the album...
Luck and Strange, the title track, has a 3/4 blues/folk sound, a track built on a 2007 jam session with Richard Wright on electric piano and Hammond organ, with a crescendo that leads to a finale in which Gilmour's guitar returns imposingly alongside Wright's keyboards, for the last time.
The Piper's Call begins acoustically and builds to a crescendo of blues solos and slide guitar.
A Single Spark is a relaxing song with a dreamy atmosphere, featuring a stunning three-minute final solo in his classic style. Beautiful.
Vita Brevis is a very short instrumental, just 40 seconds, an introduction to the next song.
Between Two Points is a Montgolfier Brothers cover sung by Gilmour's daughter, Romany, with a dreamy atmosphere, a harp interlude, and a very engaging guitar solo.
Dark and Velvet Nights is a melancholic song with a beautiful groove.
Sings is a beautiful ballad with orchestral arrangements and a touching atmosphere, featuring a vocal sample of his son Joe as a child asking his father to sing.
Scattered is the album's masterpiece, opening with a heartbeat and featuring one of Gilmour's most beautiful final solos since his days with Pink Floyd. Beautiful.
An album that, despite featuring Wright, marked Gilmour's definitive emancipation from the "Pink Floyd" label. The success of the 2024-2025 tour and the accompanying concert film at the Circus Maximus demonstrated that audiences recognize Gilmour as an independent artistic entity capable of filling arenas even while prioritizing new material over the band's classics.
Great album!
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page.
Tracklist
1. Black Cat (1:32)
2. Luck and Strange (6:57)
3. The Piper's Call (5:15)
4. A Single Spark (6:04)
5. Vita Brevis (0:46)
6. Between Two Points (5:47)
7. Dark and Velvet Nights (4:45)
8. Sings (5:14)
9. Scattered (7:34)
Duration 43:54
LineUp
- David Gilmour - guitars, vocals
Featuring:
- Romany Gilmour - lead vocals and harmonica (6)
- Gabriel Gilmour - backing vocals (6)
- Roger Eno - keyboards
- Rob Gentry - keyboards
- Richard Wright - keyboards (2)
- Tom Herbert - bass
- Guy Pratt - bass
- Adam Betts - drums
- Steve DiStanislao - drums
- Steve Gadd - drums
- Will Gardner - string arrangements and backing vocals
