Luck And Strange

''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, the novelist Polly Samson, wrote many of the lyrics, which she said addressed mortality and ageing. Their children contributed additional vocals and lyrics. The album also features keyboards recorded in 2007 by the Pink Floyd keyboardist, Richard Wright, who died in 2008.

"The Piper's Call", "Between Two Points" and "Dark and Velvet Nights" were released as singles. Gilmour is due to begin a tour in September.

Recording

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. Gilmour felt ''Luck and Strange'' was his best work since the 1973 album '' The Dark Side of the Moon'' by his band Pink Floyd.

''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. Gilmour said Andrew challenged him musically and made him approach his songs in new ways: "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."

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, with string and choral arrangements by Will Gardner. It also features keyboards recorded by the Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright during a jam in Gilmour's barn in 2007 prior to the former's death in 2008.

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

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 daughter, Romany, performed harp and vocals on "Between Two Points", their son Gabriel contributed backing vocals, and their son Charlie contributed some lyrics of "Scattered". The album cover was photographed and designed by Anton Corbijn.

Release and promotion

Gilmour announced ''Luck and Strange'' on 24 April 2024. It was released on 6 September. 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. Gilmour is due to begin a tour for ''Luck and Strange'' in September 2024. He replaced some of the musicians in his touring band, as he felt some of them "would have been better off in a Pink Floyd tribute band" and he wanted to use more creative musicians. He plans to record another album with the same musicians soon after completing the tour.

Track listing

Personnel

* David Gilmour – guitar (all), piano (1, 9), vocals (2–4, 6–9), organ (3, 7), ukulele (3), backing vocals (4, 6–8), keyboards (6, 9), bass guitar (8-9)
* Richard Wright – electric piano, Hammond organ (2)
* Romany Gilmour – lead vocals (6), backing vocals (2–4, 6–8), harp (5-6)
* Gabriel Gilmour – backing vocals (3, 4)
* Rob Gentry – synthesiser (1–4, 6, 9), keyboards (3, 6, 8-9), piano (4, 6, 8-9), organ (7)
* Roger Eno – piano (1, 9)
* Guy Pratt – bass guitar (2, 3, 7–9)
* Adam Betts – percussion (2, 4, 6–9), djembe (3), drums (4)
* Steve DiStanislao – drums (2)
* Steve Gadd – drums, percussion (3, 6–9)
* Tom Herbert – bass guitar (4)
* Edmund Aldhous – organist and Director of Music at Ely Cathedral
* Ely Cathedral Choir – vocals
* Angel Studios Choir - vocals
* Angel Studios Orchestra

Technical
* David Gilmour – production, mixing, engineering
* Charlie Andrew – production, mixing, engineering
* Matt Glasbey – mixing, engineering
* Dick Beetham – mastering
* Damon Iddins – engineering
* Andy Jackson – additional production (tracks 2, 3, 7)
* Luie Stylianou – additional production (track 8)
* Will Gardner – arrangement (tracks 2, 4, 6, 9)

References

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2024 albums
David Gilmour albums
Sony Music albums