Luck and Strange explained

Luck and Strange
Type:studio
Artist:David Gilmour
Cover:Luck and Strange.jpg
Studio:Medina Studio
Salvation Studios
British Grove Studios
Angel Studios
Astoria Studio
Iguana Studios
Length:43:21
Label:Sony
Producer:
Prev Title:Live at Pompeii
Prev Year:2017

Luck and Strange is the fifth studio album by the English guitarist and songwriter David Gilmour, released on 6 September 2024 by Sony Music. It was produced by Gilmour and Charlie Andrew. Gilmour said Andrew challenged him musically and was not intimidated by his past work with Pink Floyd.

Gilmour's wife, novelist Polly Samson, wrote most of the lyrics, which she said addressed mortality and ageing. Their children contributed additional vocals, lyrics and instrumentation. The song "Luck and Strange" features keyboards recorded in 2007 by the Pink Floyd keyboardist, Richard Wright, who died in 2008. The album also features a cover of the 1999 song "Between Two Points," originally by the British band the Montgolfier Brothers.

Luck and Strange became Gilmour's third number-one album on the UK Albums Chart. "The Piper's Call," "Between Two Points," "Dark and Velvet Nights" and "Luck and Strange" were released as singles. Gilmour toured in support of the album in late 2024.

Recording and content

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, Gilmour and his family performed music on livestreams. Gilmour said this inspired him to "discard some of the past that I'd felt bound to" and explore new musical ideas.[1] Gilmour felt Luck and Strange was his best work since the 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon by his band Pink Floyd.[2]

Luck and Strange was recorded over five months at Gilmour's Medina Studio in Hove and at Mark Knopfler's British Grove Studios in London, with the producer Charlie Andrew.[3] Gilmour said Andrew challenged him and made him approach his songs in new ways, challenging his habits. He said: "He has a wonderful lack of knowledge or respect for this past of mine. He's very direct and not in any way overawed, and I love that. That is just so good for me because the last thing you want is people just deferring to you." Andrew said he was not "trying to regurgitate another Pink Floyd album, or one of [Gilmour's] solo albums".

The album features musicians including Guy Pratt and Tom Herbert on bass, Adam Betts, Steve Gadd and Steve DiStanislao on drums, and Rob Gentry and Roger Eno on keyboards. The strings and choir were arranged by Will Gardner and recorded in Ely Cathedral, Cambridgeshire.[4] Gilmour's wife, the writer Polly Samson, wrote the majority of the lyrics, which she said reflected themes of mortality and ageing. She adapted the lyrics for "Dark and Velvet Nights" from a poem she composed for their wedding anniversary. Their son Gabriel contributed backing vocals, and their son Charlie contributed some lyrics to "Scattered".

"Luck and Strange" features keyboards recorded by the Pink Floyd keyboardist, Richard Wright, during a jam in Gilmour's barn in 2007. Wright died in 2008. Gilmour built on the recording to create the final song, saying it "started developing a depth that I'd forgotten about. The playing on it is unmistakably Richard."[5] "The Piper's Call" was likened to early Pink Floyd.[6]

The album features a cover of the 1999 song "Between Two Points", originally by the British band the Montgolfier Brothers.[7] Gilmour said he had been a fan of the song since its release and was surprised that it had not been a hit. His daughter, Romany, performed harp and vocals. Mark Tranmer of the Montgolfier Brothers said he enjoyed Gilmour's version, saying "it diverges from the original but keeps the spirit".

Release

Gilmour announced Luck and Strange on 24 April 2024. It was released on 6 September,[8] and became Gilmour's third album to reach number one on the UK Albums Chart.[9] The first single, "The Piper's Call", was released on 25 April. "Between Two Points", was released on 17 June. "Dark and Velvet Nights" was released on 9 August.[10] The album cover was photographed and designed by Anton Corbijn.[11] The day before the album was released, Gilmour published lyrics in local newspapers, such as the Cambridge News, and encouraged fans to find them.[12]

Tour

See main article: Luck and Strange Tour. Gilmour began a tour for Luck and Strange on 27 September 2024, with performances in Rome, London, Los Angeles and New York City.[13] Gilmour also performed two rehearsal concerts at Brighton Centre in Brighton.[14] His touring band includes Pratt on bass, Gentry and Greg Phillinganes on keyboards, Adam Betts on drums, Ben Worsley on guitar, and backing vocals from Louise Marshall, Charley Webb, and Hattie Webb; and his daughter Romany, who sang "Between Two Points" and backing vocals.[15] Gilmour said he plans to record another album with the band soon after completing the tour.

Critical reception

Year-end lists

Publication/critic! scope="col"
AccoladeRank
MOJO75 Best Albums of 202418[16]
Uncut80 Best Albums of 202448[17]

Personnel

Technical

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Croatian International Albums (HDU)[18] 1
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[19] 38
Slovak Albums (ČNS IFPI)[20] 68
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (Billboard)[21] 4

Notes and References

  1. Grow . Kory . 24 April 2024 . David Gilmour to release new album, Luck and Strange, this fall . 24 April 2024 . . en-US.
  2. Web site: Singh . Surej . 2024-08-06 . David Gilmour says new solo album is the 'best' music he's made since The Dark Side of the Moon . 2024-08-11 . . en-GB.
  3. Web site: Gatti . Nino . 27 August 2024 . "Luck and strange", Gilmour tra passato e futuro . 18 September 2024 . . it.
  4. Web site: Paphides . Pete . 2024-05-07 . David Gilmour interviewed: 'There was no pious false respect' . 2024-09-07 . . en-GB.
  5. Greene . Andy . 2024-08-26 . David Gilmour on His New LP 'Luck and Strange,' and Plans for Upcoming Tour . 2024-09-07 . . en-US.
  6. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/news/david-gilmour-luck-and-strange-review/ With Luck and Strange, David Gilmour pays his dues to Pink Floyd’s imperial past
  7. Martoccio . Angie . 2024-06-17 . David Gilmour taps his daughter Romany for 'Between Two Points' . 2024-06-20 . . en-US.
  8. News: Brown . Helen . 2024-09-06 . David Gilmour review, Luck and Strange: Graceful ruminations on love and mortality . 2024-09-06 . The Independent . en.
  9. Web site: Brannigan . Paul . 2024-09-13 . 'I'd like to thank everyone who's bought my new album and helped make it number 1.' David Gilmour celebrates his third solo UK number one album with Luck and Strange . 2024-09-13 . . en.
  10. Web site: Ahmed . Aneesa . 2024-08-09 . David Gilmour releases new track 'Dark And Velvet Nights' . 2024-08-10 . . en-GB.
  11. Web site: 24 April 2024 . The new album Luck and Strange out 6th September . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240424174550/https://www.davidgilmour.com/ . 24 April 2024 . 25 April 2024 . davidgilmour.com.
  12. Web site: 2024-09-06 . Cambridge paper holds Gilmour's lyrics in its folds . 2024-09-19 . . en-GB.
  13. Grow . Kory . 2024-05-13 . David Gilmour sets first US tour dates in eight years . 2024-05-16 . . en-US.
  14. Web site: Fu . Eddie . 2024-09-23 . David Gilmour previews solo tour with dress rehearsal shows in Brighton . 2024-09-23 . . en.
  15. Greene . Andy . 2024-08-26 . David Gilmour on his new LP Luck and Strange, and plans for upcoming tour . 2024-09-24 . . en-US.
  16. Web site: November 11, 2024 . MOJO's 75 Best Albums of 2024 . November 13, 2024 . albumoftheyear.org.
  17. Web site: Pearis . Bill . November 8, 2024 . List Season comes early with Uncut's Top 80 Albums of 2024 . November 12, 2024 . brooklynvegan.com.
  18. Web site: Lista prodaje 38. tjedan 2024.. September 25, 2024. . hr. September 25, 2024. September 25, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240925063852/https://www.top-lista.hr/www/lista-prodaje-strano-38-tjedan-2024/. live.
  19. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of September 11, 2024. Billboard Japan. ja. 11 September 2024.
  20. Web site: Top 100 Slovak Albums. International Federation of the Phonographic Industry. 16 September 2024.
  21. David Gilmour Chart History: Top Rock & Alternative Albums. Billboard. 17 September 2024.