Rating: NNN
Aside from spending three weeks as a cokehead in 1988, I never did many drugs, which might explain why I never got into this sort of thing. Still, you gotta give David Gilmour massive props for staying true to what he loves: atmospheric art rock. Ambient, spacious, spacey, psychedelic offerings make for a collection of what can only be described as “soundscapes” (of course). Crashing waves mix with a cumbus chants of “take a breath, take a deep breath” march alongside cello, astral keys and noodly guitars. These tunes tend to meander and often feel like they should be going somewhere we never get to. But a lot of it is very lovely, and there’s something so sweet about Gilmour, who features himself on the cover of this record, in silhouette, sitting on a rock, in the water, framed by the moon and – I am not shitting you – watching what looks like a flock of seagulls. You see what I mean? Produced by Phil Manzanera, and bunch of folks guest, including Andy Newmark on drums.