I know that David Gilmour has more money than any of us will ever dream, but I appreciate it when a legendary musician is slow to release new music as they wait for inspiration. And I truly believe Gilmour’s new album was the result of inspiration in his life. Luck and Strange was released on September 6th through Sony Music.
I assume everyone knows David Gilmour and Pink Floyd. But this album is much more than a retread of Floydian sounds. In fact, it’s something of a family affair. David provides guitar, piano, vocals, ukulele, bass, organ, keys, and cümbüş, and his daughter Romany and son Gabriel both provide vocals, too. His wife, Polly Samson, wrote many of the lyrics. And, like an emotional punch to the gut, the title track features keys played by none other than Richard Wright, which were recorded in 2007, a year before his death. A small army of musicians provide the rest of the instrumentation.
Luck and Strange holds a hypnotic power. I went into it with some skepticism because of David’s comment that this is his best album since Dark Side of the Moon, and while it certainly isn’t that, it is still a lovely, haunting, and homey album that seems to set down roots in your mind. With each listen, it is easy to forget the Floydian past and embrace the sounds of an aging man serenading the world. It’s one of those albums that forces the warmest of smiles upon your face, especially when David lays down one of his signature solos.
Polly’s lyrics address death and aging, but not always in the ways you would expect. Romany’s inclusion on two tracks gives the album a sense of watching one’s children grow up and wrestle with the world and the sway it tries to hold over them. This, of course, makes one feel older, and the reflection is potent at times as Polly writes and David vocalizes their feelings about the world, about marriage, about parenting, and about hope for the future.
The album has ten songs, plus a bonus track. Personally, I like the second half of the album best. The opener “Black Cat” is basically an intro to the title track, which I adore. I do think David stretches his voice a little further than is comfortable for him, but the song is bluesy and full of wit and wisdom. “The Piper’s Call” reminds me of 90s Floyd with its warm sounds and classy ambience; I love the chorus. “A Single Spark” is a shuffling piece where David tosses some grit into his lower range, and the second part contains a guitar solo with reserved, yet strong emotions. “Vita Brevis” is an ambient, harp-laden interlude.
The last five proper songs on the album are absolute joys. “Between Two Points” is a cover of the 1999 song by The Montgolfier Brothers; Romany provides the lead vocals, and I am absolutely enthralled by this song. I love the pace and steady beat, I love Romany’s delivery and vulnerable expression, and I love the subtle solo near the end. “Dark and Velvet Nights” comes next, and I love the lyrics and the bold rhythm; it has some spunk and funk in its step, and yet the song is deeply human.
“Sings” is one of my favorites; it’s not quite a ballad, but the feeling is there. We listen as David emotes about his children, his marriage, his life, and the messy beauty of it all. It always brings a tear to my eye. The closer “Scattered” is fantastic; its reserved character is both quintessentially Floyd and also something darker and more grounded. The song also contains gorgeous keys and a mighty guitar solo from David that could be his best in a long time. I love it.
The final tunes are really good. “Yes, I Have Ghosts” is a folksy duet between David and Romany. It’s a perfect way to end the album, with whimsy and melody and strings. It’s gorgeous. The bonus track is the 14-minute titular barn jam, which I believe is the original from 2007. It has no lyrics, so it is just the jam, and it is amazing. We get to hear plenty of improvisation from Richard Wright, groovy bass, and guitar musings, and I could listen to it forever.
David Gilmour’s Luck and Strange is a pleasant surprise. When a legend releases a new solo album, I often listen once or twice, and I’m done. But I’m hooked on this record, and every listen brings out more of the emotion and ambience. This is a terrific album, and if it were to be his last, he will have ended an extremely high note.
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The PROG Mind 
been playong for a few months. My this is so hypnotic. Hauntingly beatiful. Soulful. Fulfilling. Leaves me wanting more. You provided an accurate summary. If I may. WOW…my favs are Between tow points & live JAM.
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