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Rating:
There's nothing to do, class is like fine wine, the older it gets, the more crystalline it becomes. The shining example is that of sir David Gilmour, who at sixty seems to be reborn to a new life. Having cut all ties with Pink Floyd, he, enclosed in his floating studio, allowed himself to be lulled by the River Thames and returned to writing songs. Songs born from the desire to play, from a passion never ceased and indeed ever stronger, which led to the birth of ten real gems. "On An Island" is the album you would never have expected, but our hero has amazed us once again. A clear and intense album, played divinely and enriched by the presence of numerous important guests; suffice it to say that Richard Wright, Robert Wyatt, Phil Manzanera, David Crosby, and Graham Nash are on board.
The album opens with "Castellorizon," a splendid intro based entirely on David's guitar genius intertwining with a splendid work of violins and Hammond, for a brief yet intense overture with vaguely Floydian atmospheres. The final guitar solo is chilling, a worthy testimony of the class and magic touch of this immense musician. "On An Island" is a splendid beginning for the new artistic life that Gilmour has ascended to; a splendid ballad with wonderful lyrics, based on a guitar riff that vaguely recalls the atmospheres of "Shine On Your Crazy Diamonds," just to remember the illustrious past of our hero. The vocal interludes, where the guitarist's voice intertwines and blends with those of Crosby and Nash, which further enrich an already magnificent piece, are stunning. The guitar soars in the liquid and clear air as never before, culminating in a breathtaking new solo. The atmosphere becomes even more intimate and melancholic with the following "The Blue," a splendid ballad with voices still at the forefront and a harmonica in the background to infuse a touch more magic. A drastic change of direction happens with "Take A Breath," perhaps the most purely rock song on the album. Opened by overlapping voices, the song explodes in all its power, supported by a powerful but clean guitar riff and excellent work on the rhythm section. "Red Sky At Night" is a short yet introspective instrumental interlude rich in charm, featuring Gilmour alternating on guitar and saxophone. This new guise seems to fit perfectly with our hero, who proves to be a great saxophonist, further evidence of his versatility and immense musical capabilities.
"This Heaven," is a beautiful blues song where the guitar contrasts with a liquid Hammond as in the best tradition of blues music. The guitar solo is delightful, as is the inclusion of some strings that meld beautifully with the song, making it even more beautiful and engaging. Another instrumental of high quality is undoubtedly "Then I Close My Eyes," featuring the great Robert Wyatt on horn (his final solo is goosebump-inducing) and percussion. The weissenborn played by B J Cole is also wonderful, superbly contrasting with Gilmour's guitar. A track rich in suggestion and atmosphere, an ethereal composition to be listened to with closed eyes to fully savor its value. A pearl of rare beauty and one of the most beautiful moments of the album. A delightful acoustic watercolor is "Smile," which once again contrasts the acoustic guitar and, in this case, a pedal steel played delicately. Beautiful is the duet between good David's voice and Polly Samson's, for a song that manages to capture you from the first listen. "A Pocketful Of Stones" opens with a chilling intro only to flow into a beautiful piano ballad, embellished with a fine string work. A worthy closure of the album is "Where We Start," a Floydian track to the core, a reflective ballad with the voice still at the forefront showing all its beauty and intensity, with the guitar counterbalancing with solos of near-total purity.
A wonderful, intense, emotional album, a true pearl of rare beauty and craftsmanship packaged by that genius sir David Gilmour. A great commendation goes to our hero, who at sixty continues to move and touch us, and may it continue for many, many more years. Welcome back uncle David.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 On an Island (06:47)
Remember that night...
White sails in the moonlight
They walked it too...
Through empty playground, this ghost's town
Children again on rusting swings getting higher
Sharing a dream
On an Island.... it felt right
We lay side by side,
Between the moon and the tide
Mapping the stars for a while
Let the night surround you
We're half way to the stars,
Ebb and flow
Let it grow..... feel the warmth beside you
Remember that night,
The warmth and the laughter
Candles burn...
Though the church was deserted
At dawn we went down through empty streets to the harbour
Dreamers may leave ...but we're here everafter...
Da da da da da....
Let the night surround you
We're half way to the stars,
Ebb and flow
Let it grow..... feel the warmth beside you...
04 Take a Breath (05:45)
Take a breath
Take a deep breath now
Take a breath
A deep breath now
Take a breath
When you're down is where you find yourself
When you're drown there's nothing else
If you're lost you'll need to turn yourself
Then you'll find out that there's no one else
To make the moves that you can do
When you fall from grace your eyes in blue
Your every breath becomes another world
And the far horizon's living hell
Take a breath
A deep breath now
This kind of love is hard to find
I never got to you by being kind
If I'm the one to throw you overboard
At least I showed you how to swim for shore
When you're down is where you'll know yourself
Then if you're drown there's nothing else
When you're lost you need to find yourself
Then you'll find out that there's no one else
06 This Heaven (04:24)
All the pieces fall into place
When we walk these fields
And I reach out to touch your face
This earthly heaven is enough for me
So break the bread and pour the wine
I need no blessings but I'm counting mine
Life is much more than money buys
When I see the faith in my children's eyes
I've felt the power in a holy place
And wished for comfort when in need
Now I'm here in a state of grace
This earthly heaven is enough for me
So break the bread and pour the wine
I need no blessings but I'm counting mine
Life is much more than money buys
When I see the faith in my children's eyes
08 Smile (04:03)
Would this do
To make it all right
While sleep has taken you
Where I'm out of sight
I'll make my getaway
Time on my own
Search for a better way
To find my way home
To your smile
Wasting days and days
On this night
Always down and up
Half the night
Hopeless to reminisee
Through the dark hours
We'll only sacrifice
What time will allow us
You're sighing... sighing
All alone
Though you're right here
Now it's time to go
From your sad stare
Make my getaway
Time on my own
Needing a better way
To find my way home
To your smile
10 Where We Start (06:46)
Where we start is where we end
We step out sweetly, nothing planned
Along by the river we feed bread to the swans
And then over the footbridge to the woods beyond
We walk ourselves weary, you and I
There's just this moment
I light a campfire away from the path
We lie in the bluebells, a woodpecker laughs
Time passes slowly our hearts entwined
All of the dark times left behind
The day is done
The sun sinks low
We fold up the blanket, it's time to go
We walk ourselves weary, arm in arm
Back through the twilight
Home again
We waltz in the moonlight and the embers glow
So much behind us
Still far to go
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Other reviews
By Torre Ste
The anticipation is truly high, but Gilmour seems used to it and delivers an album filled with compositions of the highest quality.
It is obvious that a Gilmour without Waters (and vice versa) is not able to compose a better work than the entire discography of one of the most important groups in music history.
By Vinsex
Pink Floyd is greater than the sum of its parts, and 'the voice and the guitar' represents just a limb of that fabulous creature.
An self-commemorative album, which has disappointed me quite a bit, but which I hope (though I doubt it) to re-evaluate over time.
By tiziocaio1
The intro entrusted to "Castellorizon" is in full Pink Floyd style, a worthy opening to show us that things are serious.
Again "Then I Close my Eyes" recommended during makeout sessions.
By iside
The first track starts slow, slow, feels a bit like an old Pink Floyd hit, slips away without leaving a trace.
Hell, it sounds like an old Pink Floyd song.
By paloz
Who at sixty years old can still produce works filled with such emotion?
It could almost be defined as a small leap into the past, an old acquaintance, a rediscovered friend, a regained connection.
