Design By Humans
Published On: Thu, Oct 26th, 2017

David Gilmour: Live at Pompeii

David Gilmour
Live at Pompeii
(Columbia)

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Live at Pompeii is a new live album (there’s accompanying DVD too) from former Pink Floydian David Gilmour. Gilmour brought his 2015-16 tour to this historic Italian venue where Pink Floyd actually played 45 years ago for their Pink Floyd: Live at PompeiiĀ (though for that documentary their wasn’t an audience in attendance save for the band’s film crew and roadies).

Opening with the sweet guitar bends of Ā ā€œ5 A.M,ā€ into the acoustic jangle of the Parisian-tinged (complete with JoĆ£o Mello’s saxophone leading) ā€œFaces Of Stone,ā€ Gilmour starts off with stuff from his most recent studio album,Ā Rattle That Lock.

We get the first rockin’, and the first Floyd (though a later Floyd) track, with the funky ā€œWhat Do You Want From Me?ā€ complete with high-flying female backing vocals. Then Gilmour goes even further back for ā€œThe Great Gig in the Sky.ā€ Though it’s hard to take on this classic Floyd piece without Rick Wright around to man Gilmour’s piano any longer, Gilmour’s backing vocalists (even one male member) all step up for the iconic moaning vocals.

ā€œWish You Were Hereā€ is trotted out here, and though Gilmour’s vocal still sounds perfect on this old gem, it’s the audience singing along that will give you the chills.

The newer, and one could argue, slightly obscure ā€œHigh Hopes,ā€ is allowed its full drama here. ā€œShine On You Crazy Diamondā€ occurs earlier than it used to as the ubiquitous Pink Floyd ender, and a very old Floyd country nugget, ā€œFat Old Sunā€ even gets a moment in the spotlight.

Live at Pompeii presents a well-played and sung ring-around David Gilmour’s uncatalogued in an unmatched historic venue.

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David Gilmour: Live at Pompeii