I’ve written it a few times on this blog: When people ask me what is the most important band in your life, I say Pink Floyd without a second’s hesitation. The epic character of masterpieces such as “Comfortably Numb“, “High Hopes“ or “Echoes“ has had a lasting influence on my preference for sublime, majestic, ethereal sounds. If you ask me about my favourite guitarist, my answer for 30 years has been: David Gilmour. With this in mind, it’s not surprising that I’m discussing the first single from the maestro’s new release on this platform, where epic metal usually takes centre stage.

Luck and Strange will be released on 6 September. So we have plenty of time for anticipation – even more so as there will indeed be a tour for Gilmour’s 5th solo album. It still sounds like a dream as I type this, but it’s really happening. Countless fans are already scraping together their savings to finance a trip to London – the Royal Albert Hall is likely to be one of the chosen venues.

But let’s move on to the new music: “The Piper’s Call“ is a clear reference to Pink Floyd‘s legendary debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, with which Syd Barrett created a monument for eternity. Even if the lyrics, once again written by Gilmour’s wife Polly Samson, are quite mysterious and universal, the following lines are presumably dedicated to the name-giver of the best band of all time:

The flamеs are high, the piper’s call, contagious
A fixеr who will numb your pain, and strangeness

Musically, the song begins very calmly and relaxed – fitting for the balanced and life-affirming David. But, don’t worry, in the second half of the track we also hear the maestro’s distinctive electric guitar – and a very well-executed solo at the end. The latter is undoubtedly the highlight, and I also really like the chorus:

The promise of eternal youth
The spoils of fame, a carpe diem attitude

“Eternal youth“ – that fits. Of course, you notice Mr Gilmour’s 78 years on this planet. But not only is his guitar playing timeless, his voice, which has also captivated me since I was 12 years old, still radiates a warmth that can only be experienced from very few singers.

In short, “The Piper’s Call“ is a very promising first impression. As Luck and Strange only lasts a good 43 minutes, we can expect compact compositions that get to the point – an art that older musicians in particular often forget. As you can imagine, I can’t wait to hold my album of the year in my hands.

Listen to “The Piper’s Call”: Click here.