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David Gilmour David Gilmour Review by Gary Hill This was David Gilmour’s first solo album. I remember hearing this when it came out on the radio (remember when they used to play whole albums on FM radio?) and falling in love with it. For those who think that Roger Waters was always the life breath of Pink Floyd, listen to this release and tell me again how David Gilmour isn’t a big part of the heart, soul and sound of the band. In other words, this sounds a lot like the Floyd, but still has Gilmour’s personal flavor in it. I still like this one a lot and it holds up quite well in spite of the passing of time. This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2009 Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.

Track by Track Review

Mihalis This instrumental is a great opening track. It starts off perhaps a bit like the Dark Side of the Moon era Floyd – albeit minus all the horns and such. Later in the track Gilmour raises the roof and pulls it into harder rock and I’m reminded of Animals. We get a great composition and some trademark, and especially tasty, guitar soloing.

There's No Way Out Of Here Here Gilmour gives us a bluesy jam. This is hard rocking and bleak. His vocals, of course, lends a Pink Floydian texture to this. Yet it’s a bit more of a stripped down sound. There are some tasty retro keyboard textures later in the piece. The soaring chorus is more positive in feeling (but still bleak lyrically) and with other layers of sound (including female backing vocals) feels even more like the Floyd.

Cry From The Street Coming in even more bluesy, the guitar sound here is mean. It reminds me a bit of Animals era Pink Floyd. As the arrangement fills out other periods of Floyd’s history come to mind. When Gilmour’s vocals join the picture is complete. I like this track a lot. I don’t think I’d consider it my favorite, but it’s one of the favorites.

So Far Away Piano leads this off. It feels almost like Elton John on the introduction, but then shifts out into a more typical Floydian arrangement. This is more keyboard oriented than guitar dominated. It’s a pretty song and works quite well. There’s a more guitar oriented section later in the track.

Short And Sweet This might well be the real star of the CD. It starts off tentatively and builds gradually. The motif is very much in keeping with Pink Floyd’s music. Later in the track, though, we get a rather George Harrison-like segment that gives way to a more pure rock motif. At times I’m also reminded a bit of Rush on this.

Raise My Rent Another instrumental, this grows and changes gradually. It’s a dynamic number and another highlight. We get some great guitar work, but there’s plenty here of interest besides the guitar.

No Way This is the bluesiest piece on the disc. It’s probably the least Floydian, too. Yet, there is still a definite Floyd feeling to it. It’s just not as pronounced. While I wouldn’t consider this the best cut on show, it’s good and a nice change of pace.

Deafinitely This killer Floydian instrumental is another great tune. It’s got some excellent melody and rocks out quite well. It’s another possible choice for best track.

I Can't Breathe Anymore The first portion of this is in the motif of a moody ballad with Floydian textures. Then it fires out into a screaming hard rock instrumental jam that eventually takes the track to its fade out.

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