David Gilmour, the iconic guitarist of Pink Floyd, recently unveiled his first studio album in nearly a decade. Titled “Luck and Strange,” the album is set to be released by Sony Music on September 6th, available in LP, CD, BLU-RAY, and digital formats. The album’s debut single, “The Piper’s Call,” is already making waves on digital platforms.
Over a period of five months, Gilmour immersed himself in the creative process, splitting his time between Brighton and London to craft “Luck and Strange.” Collaborating with producer Charlie Andrew, renowned for his work with ALT-J and Marika Hackman, Gilmour embraced a fresh approach to his music. Reflecting on their collaboration, Gilmour remarked on Andrew’s candid feedback, appreciating his uninhibited perspective and directness.
David Gilmour’s 70,000 fans gathered for his first ever concert in Buenos Aires Hipódormo de San Isidrio, in Argentina, on 19 December 2015. Photo: Jimmy Baikovicius, Creative Commons.
“We invited Charlie over and he listened to a few demos, which he then commented on something like: ‘Does there really have to be a guitar solo?’ or ‘Are all the songs going to fade out? How about a proper ending?’”, Gilmour explained. “It’s wonderful that he hardly knows anything about my past and has no respect for it. He is very direct and doesn’t freeze in awe – I really like that. The last thing you need is people telling you what you want to hear.”
Polly Samson, Gilmour’s long-time collaborator of 30 years, contributed significantly to the album’s lyrics, delving into themes of mortality and introspection.
“He wants to know what the songs are about,” Samson said about working with Andrew. “Everyone who performs the songs should know the lyrics and incorporate that into their playing. It’s about mortality, about how you look at the world as you get older.”
“During lockdown and afterwards, we thought a lot about these topics,” Gilmour elaborated.
The album, featuring eight new tracks along with a cover of “Between Two Points” by The Montgolfier Brothers, also boasts artwork and photos by Anton Corbijn. Notably, the title track includes a recording by the late Rick Wright, former keyboardist of Pink Floyd.
A diverse array of musicians contributed to the album’s creation, including Guy Pratt, Tom Herbert, Adam Betts, Steve Gadd, Steve DiStanislao, Rob Gentry, Roger Eno, and Will Gardner. Additionally, the album features contributions from Gilmour’s family, with Romany Gilmour providing lead vocals and harp playing on “Between Two Points,” and Gabriel Gilmour contributing backing vocals.
Gilmour expressed gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with his family, noting the liberating experience of shedding old conventions and embracing new creative freedoms.
“Polly and I have been writing together for 30 years and thanks to the Von Trapped Family live streams we found that we could shed some of our past with Romany’s harp playing and her voice,” Gilmour spoke about working with his family. “We could let go of old rules and do what we felt like doing. And that gave us immense joy.”
The album, born out of introspection during lockdown, promises to offer listeners a poignant exploration of life’s complexities and the passage of time.
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