David Gilmour
On a Island

I know... here we go again with another review of this album. I felt like it and got inspired after listening to it several times. Now I'm ready to be as objective as possible.
After seeing such a name on the cover, with such a career and talent behind it, one should buy it with eyes closed and without debate.
After exclaiming like many YAHUUUUUUUU!! at the news of good old David being dusted off, I had to tone it down to EEEhhhheee after playing it in the player.
So... ready... Sennheiser headphones... player... click. PLAY!! This is my ritual on the first listen.

After 12 years of excessive silence, Gilmour's endless Stratocaster moves just by hearing it faintly. The magic of sound and the past that always returns. Even worse for long-time fans who forgive everything. Oh well... listen to that stuff. "Costellorizon" does not disappoint. Well-crafted mix of evocative sounds. Much better than "Cluster One". Beautiful... come on. It's him. GO!!! The usual few notes placed like only he does. Chills.
"On a Island"... back to the colors of "Meddle". Very '70s... arranged with apparent simplicity but what quality. The usual mandatory perfectionism. Perfect choruses with illustrious guests. Smooth and charming. What more do you want in 2006 from a sixty-year-old accomplished and serene? Who cares? Take it home. Nice little piece of work. Eternal flavor. Posterity will notice.
"The Blue"... how slow. So slow. Cute. Lake images and a rowboat at sunset. That's what you see. Click!! Skip.
"Take a Breath"... well... a bit naughty! I can't help it... the introspective vein of Animals comes to mind. Pleasant rock. Floydian riff. That's what I want. I like it. I approve. Click! Forward again. What now...
What? Saxophone?? "Red sky at Night". BOH! Pure introspection lost to waste. What a pity. Ugly and unnecessary. Dave, what are you doing? Click! Forward...
"This Heaven" is just a blues. I don't like blues. Not like this. Aiaiaiai. Click!
Ahhhhhhh... the Mississippi, suitable for the soundtrack of Amistad, what's it got to do with it??? No... change. "Then I close my eyes" becomes the sequel to Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast. Crafty and psychedelic. Daring and a bit anonymous. Too much is expected from the myth. Click!
"Smile". Minimalist and somnambulist. Nothing to do! Click!
Noooo. Another slow one. Well, come on. This "A pocketful of stones" isn't bad. A bit dark sometimes like The Wall. BUT too slow. So much love Dave. You're really in love. Cute. I'll keep it.
"Where we start" closes everything. Obvious slow ballad. Finish. Eject. Mmmmmh.

Anyone expecting a slightly explosive album with more pronounced sounds, proper space, honorary parentheses, and majestic arrangements will be very disappointed. All of Dave Gilmour's 60 years are felt. It's an album by someone with a lot behind and too much to find new chemistry. It's a journey back to the early '70s to his stylistic origins. There's no trace of the Waters-Floyd style. Just Gilmour. Too little movement considering the 12 years since Division Bell.
I can't say everything bad about the work, I'm disappointed by the too shallow content and the excessive tranquility of the performances. A quality lullaby album. Fortunately, there's the Fender. Always fabulous despite the diminishing context.
But Gilmour could be forgiven anything, as long as he plays. Here he deserves a good earful.