David Gilmour
On An Island

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.