Gilmour's great gig 'On an Island'

Even with David Gilmour and Roger Waters setting aside their differences for last summer's Pink Floyd reunion, the Floyd stigma unfairly haunts Gilmour on his latest solo effort, On An Island. Graceful, contemplative and spiritually rewarding, On An Island finds Gilmour in top form. For Floyd enthusiasts, the album will leave the listener salivating -- undoubtedly coping with the notion of what could be. \nBaggage aside, On An Island is a testament to the longevity of one of rock's true shaman, still guiding his audience through some of the deepest, most blissful moments of the rock idiom. \nThe journey begins with the calculated orchestral crescendos of "Castellorizon." Arranged by Zbigniew Preisner, the orchestra provides an enigmatic atmosphere that serves as an indicator of things to come. A bell tolls. Airy synthetic vocals are met with a guitar morphing into the sound of fireworks. Then on cue, Gilmour's guitar touches the heavens, channeling that raw emotion only his Stratocaster can emote. Vintage Gilmour. \nThe title track follows, and features special guests David Crosby, Graham Nash and Floyd band-mate Richard Wright. Crosby and Nash lend tasteful vocal accompaniment to Gilmour's pensive love lyrics, while Wright plays a manicured Hammond. This dreamy track gives way to the languidly sublime "The Blue," a song that cries Pink Floyd with its psychedelic melancholia and extended Gilmour solo, which hovers effortlessly over a hypnotic rhythm section. It's here Wright makes his second appearance, his airy backing vocals give "Blue" more of that classic Floyd sound. \n"Take A Breath" is a dissonant, aggressive rocker that breaks the listener out of their Gilmour induced trance. The lyrics are utterly Floydian as Gilmour bellows: "When you're down is where you'll know yourself." A spacey breakdown evokes marine-like qualities reminiscent of "Echoes," before creeping back to a tumultuous resolution highlighted by Gilmour's "tell-it-like-it-is" guitar chops.\n The moody instrumental "Red Sky At Night" opens with a synthetic drone much like Floyd's "Shine On You Crazy Diamond," and is marked by a sax solo by none other than Mr. Gilmour. Gilmour's phrasing is much like that of his guitar-work, and makes one wish that he would just stick to the guitar for this number. Next up is the menacingly bluesy "This Heaven." "Heaven" speaks true to Gilmour's philanthropic nature as he touts: "Life is much more than money buys." One can't help but make note that this is the man who sold his house and donated the earnings to charity. Thanks David, we learned long ago that money is a sin.\nAs it took Gilmour more than two decades to follow up his last solo album, it becomes clear that he is by no means mailing it in. On An Island stands as a significant marker in an already storied career. The works are mature and representative of a man who has nothing left to prove and whose only concern is his own happiness. I applaud Gilmour for such a focused work and feel that On An Island gives insight into the mind of one rock's most iconic figures. Floyd fans should consider themselves blessed when Gilmour sings: "So much behind us / So far to go"