David Gilmour: Live at Pompeii

Live at Pompeii
(Columbia)
Live at Pompeii is a new live album (thereās 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 wasnāt an audience in attendance save for the bandās film crew and roadies).
Opening with the sweet guitar bends of Ā ā5 A.M,ā into the acoustic jangle of the Parisian-tinged (complete with JoĆ£o Melloās saxophone leading) āFaces Of Stone,ā Gilmour starts off with stuff from his most recent studio album,Ā Rattle That Lock.
We get the first rockinā, and the first Floyd (though a later Floyd) track, with the funky āWhat Do You Want From Me?ā complete with high-flying female backing vocals. Then Gilmour goes even further back for āThe Great Gig in the Sky.ā Though itās hard to take on this classic Floyd piece without Rick Wright around to man Gilmourās piano any longer, Gilmourās backing vocalists (even one male member) all step up for the iconic moaning vocals.
āWish You Were Hereā is trotted out here, and though Gilmourās vocal still sounds perfect on this old gem, itās the audience singing along that will give you the chills.
The newer, and one could argue, slightly obscure āHigh Hopes,ā is allowed its full drama here. āShine On You Crazy Diamondā occurs earlier than it used to as the ubiquitous Pink Floyd ender, and a very old Floyd country nugget, āFat Old Sunā even gets a moment in the spotlight.
Live at Pompeii presents a well-played and sung ring-around David Gilmourās uncatalogued in an unmatched historic venue.