A Review of David Gilmour's New CD, On an Island

On an Island is an Easy, yet Sonic New Work by This Great Singer and Guitarist

On An Island, David Gilmour's first solo release since 1984's About Face, is a fantastic CD.   Though all the music for On An Island is written by David Gilmour, he shares many of the lyric writing duties with his wife Polly Samson.  Drawn from their life together at their home on the River Thames in England, and from holiday on the island of Castellorizon in Italy, On An Island is a water-reference filled reflection on friendship, love and, at times, mortality.  Two of their good friends who shared time with David and Polly on Castellorizon have passed away.  This mixture of reflection on those departed, the happiness of David Gilmour and Polly Samson's relationship, and the layed back, water-side inspired musical feel of the album that is counter pointed by David Gilmour's soaring guitar work, has lead to an emotionally dynamic album. 

The mood of On An Island is set by David Gilmour with the first song, entitled Castellorizon.  This instrumental uses short musical loops from other songs on the album.  They fade in and  then dissipate as if they were brought in by the wind or tide.  The whole song then dissolves into a symphonic piece, which David Gilmour plays a moody guitar solo over.  The last note of his solo fades into the beginning of the album's title track, On An Island.  This whimsical and sonic song features backing vocals provided by Graham Nash and David Crosby.  With this song, David Gilmour and company transport the listener to the waters-edge on a warm, breezy afternoon.  Though the pace of the piece is slow, the guitar work and vocals carry it up high and drive it along in an inspired fashion.