New Music: David Gilmour - On An Island

Its no mystery why David Gilmour keeps refusing a full tour reunion with Roger Waters. He's worked too hard on his latest release On an Island. He wants to tour with this new material. I can't blame him - the new music is pretty good.

The album contains many songs in a 3/4 time signature. Mix that with Gilmour's beautiful guitar vibrato (almost like it was a violin) and you get a relaxing waltz of music bliss.

It all starts with the instrumental mood-piece Castellorizon, full of dissonant minor chords and phrasing elongated guitar cries. And then one-two-three, two-two-three, three-two-three, the title track begins. On An Island is reminiscent of floyd during Meddle or Obscured by the Clouds. Very straight spacey vocals and a swaying sleepy waltz rhythm. This same feel continues to the next track, The Blue.

Its these three tracks back to back where I can picture myself in my bedroom during my high school years with the black light on, incense burning, and furiously scribbling poetry all through the night.

Take a Breath really changes the pace. It is the edgier more contemporary Pink Floyd sound - perhaps Division Bell and Momentary Lapse of Reason mixed. Red Sky at Night - feels much like the title. Its an instrumental with a very sexy low saxophone - and romantic chords with guitar hardly making an appearance. This is really the only "rock" beat on the album.

This Heaven is just a classic Gilmore playing the blues. Very traditional guitar blues formulation, I can see this being performed by the local cover band in a sit-down uptown club.

Then I Close My Eyes actually makes me want to close my eyes. Its an instrumental without much substance - like something you'd play over and over to helps the kids fall asleep. Perhaps this was the meaning - because the next song, Smile, is a lullaby - and by now you'd have to be asleep if you listen to this at night in the dark.

A Pocketful Of Stones is another contemporary Floyd type of song. Unresolved chords in the chorus provide a feeling of mystery and really some non-emphasized brilliant guitar soloing.

Appropriately, the album ends with yet another 3/4 time signature. Where We Start is really an interesting title for the last track I think. It captures the essence of the first three tracks.

Overall, its a pretty good album to relax with. Something to listen to at work or while reading, not recommended for driving or poker.

Score: 8 out of 10.