Luck and Strange is David Gilmour's fifth solo record and only his third of the 21st century. The Pink Floyd guitarist clearly understands his life's privilege; he has made some of rock's most memorable music, toured its biggest stages, and been named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. He could easily coast along for the duration of his career. Instead, he has continued to tour, collaborated widely, advocated for numerous just causes, and donated the money from selling his home and guitars to charity. If he wants to make just one album per decade, he's earned the right. Appearing nine years after 2015's Rattle That Lock, Luck and Strange brings together a supporting cast that's both fresh and familiar, and also familial. To produce, he sought a more contemporary presence, Charlie Andrew (Alt-J), to augment veteran players like Guy Pratt (bass) and Steve Gadd (drums). Additionally, his daughter, singer and harpist Romany Gilmour, plays a significant role here and even takes the lead on standout "Between Two Points," a cover of the Montgolfier Brothers' 1999 dream pop song. As on all his records since the '90s, Gilmour's wife, Polly Samson, serves as lyricist and direct collaborator. The overriding tone of Luck and Strange is ruminative, though not overly melancholic, with richly imagined songs that explore uncertain futures ("A Single Spark"), nostalgia ("Sings"), marriage ("Dark and Velvet Nights"), and a generation's halcyon days (the title cut, which is built around a pre-existing 2007 jam with late Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright). The arrangements, which frequently include orchestral and choral elements, feel fresher and nimbler than on his previous set, balancing out some of the album's introspection. And the youthful presence of Romany's (as well as his son Gabriel's) vocals is a boon, lending to the largely collaborative feel. Still, it's undeniably a Gilmour album, woven through with the elegant, lyrical guitar playing and haunted vocals that are his signature. Timothy Monger
Tracklist :
1. David Gilmour– Black Cat 1:32
Guitar – David Gilmour
Music By – David Gilmour
Piano – David Gilmour, Roger Eno
Synthesizer – Rob Gentry
2. David Gilmour– Luck And Strange 6:56
Backing Vocals – David Gilmour, Romany Gilmour
Bass Guitar – Guy Pratt
Drums – Steve DiStanislao
Electric Piano, Electric Organ [Hammond] – Richard Wright
Guitar – David Gilmour
Lyrics By – Polly Samson
Music By – David Gilmour
Percussion – Adam Betts
Synthesizer – Rob Gentry
Vocals – David Gilmour
3. David Gilmour– The Piper's Call 5:15
Backing Vocals – David Gilmour, Gabriel Gilmour, Romany Gilmour
Bass Guitar – Guy Pratt
Djembe – Adam Betts
Drums, Percussion – Steve Gadd
Guitar, Slide Guitar, Ukulele, Bass [Höfner Bass], Electric Organ [Farfisa Organ] – David Gilmour
Keyboards, Synthesizer – Rob Gentry
Lyrics By – Polly Samson
Music By – David Gilmour
Vocals – David Gilmour
4. David Gilmour– A Single Spark 6:04
Backing Vocals – David Gilmour, Gabriel Gilmour, Romany Gilmour
Bass Guitar – Tom Herbert
Drums, Percussion – Adam Betts
Guitar – David Gilmour
Lyrics By – Polly Samson
Music By – David Gilmour
Piano, Synthesizer – Rob Gentry
Vocals – David Gilmour
5. David Gilmour– Vita Brevis 0:46
Harp – Romany Gilmour
Music By – David Gilmour
Slide Guitar – David Gilmour
6. David Gilmour With Romany Gilmour– Between Two Points 5:46
Backing Vocals – David Gilmour, Romany Gilmour
Bass Guitar – Guy Pratt
Drums – Steve Gadd
Guitar, Keyboards [Additional Keyboards] – David Gilmour
Harp – Romany Gilmour
Lyrics By – Roger Quigley
Music By – Mark Tranmer
Percussion – Adam Betts, Steve Gadd
Piano, Keyboards, Synthesizer – Rob Gentry
Vocals – Romany Gilmour
7. David Gilmour– Dark And Velvet Nights 4:44
Backing Vocals – David Gilmour, Romany Gilmour
Bass Guitar – Guy Pratt
Drums – Steve Gadd
Electric Organ [Hammond] – Rob Gentry
Guitar, Electric Organ [Hammond] – David Gilmour
Lyrics By – Polly Samson
Music By – David Gilmour
Percussion – Adam Betts, Steve Gadd
Vocals – David Gilmour
8. David Gilmour– Sings 5:14
Backing Vocals – David Gilmour, Romany Gilmour
Bass Guitar – Guy Pratt
Drums – Steve Gadd
Guitar, Bass [Höfner Bass] – David Gilmour
Lyrics By – Polly Samson
Music By – David Gilmour
Percussion – Adam Betts, Steve Gadd
Piano, Keyboards, Synthesizer – Rob Gentry
Vocals – David Gilmour
9. David Gilmour– Scattered 7:33
Bass Guitar – Guy Pratt
Drums – Steve Gadd
Guitar, Piano [Leslie Piano], Bass Guitar, Keyboards – David Gilmour
Keyboards, Synthesizer – Rob Gentry
Lyrics By – Charlie Gilmour, David Gilmour, Polly Samson
Music By – David Gilmour
Percussion – Adam Betts
Piano – Rob Gentry, Roger Eno
Vocals – David Gilmour
– BONUS TRACKS –
10. David Gilmour With Romany Gilmour– Yes, I Have Ghosts 3:50
Electric Organ [Farfisa Organ] – Rob Gentry
Fiddle – John McCusker
Guitar, Vocals, Samples [String Samples], Programmed By [Programming] – David Gilmour
Harp, Vocals – Romany Gilmour
Instruments [All Other] – David Gilmour
Lyrics By – Polly Samson
Music By – David Gilmour
Samples [String Quartet Sampling] – Damon Iddins
11. David Gilmour– Luck And Strange (Original Barn Jam) 13:59
Bass Guitar – Guy Pratt
Drums – Steve DiStanislao
Electric Piano, Electric Organ [Hammond] – Richard Wright
Guitar – David Gilmour
Music By – David Gilmour
Credits :
Arranged By [Orchestral And Choral Arrangements Written By], Conductor [Orchestral And Choral Conducted By] – Will Gardner
Choir – Ely Cathedral
Chorus Master [Choir Master Ely Cathedral] – Neil Porter-Thaw
Conductor [King's Ely Singers Conducted By] – Neil Porter-Thaw
Contractor [Soprano and Choir Fixer] – Kate Huggett
Music Director [Organist And Director Of Music At Ely Cathedral] – Edmund Aldhous
Violin [Leader], Contractor [Strings/Brass Fixer] – Kirsty Mangan
Vocals [Additional Vocals] – Kate Huggett (tracks: 3, 4), Will Gardner (tracks: 3, 4)
