ABOUT FACE |

Personnel: David Gilmour (vocals, guitar); Barbara Snow, Roddy Lorimer, Tim Sanders, Simon Clark (horns); Steve Winwood (piano, organ); Ian Kewley (piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Bob Ezrin (keyboards); Jon Lord , Anne Dudley (synthesizer); Pino Palladino (bass guitar); Jeff Porcaro (drums, percussion); Louis Jardin, Ray Cooper (percussion); Vicki Brown, Roy Harper, Sam Brown, Mickey Feat (background vocals). This follow-up to David Gilmour's late '70s debut is a Bob Ezrin-produced post-WALL effort, and as such it incorporates the harder sounds Gilmour had become accustomed to during the WALL sessions. Written and released around the time of Roger Waters' exit from Pink Floyd, this album foreshadows the Floyd's future musical direction. Combining layered vocals with a heavily looped guitar sound, "Until We Sleep" begins ABOUT FACE with an almost Byrds-like quality, while the gentleness of the acoustic opening to the ballad "Murder" disguises its homicidal subject matter. Both "Love On the Air," and "All Lovers are Deranged," are distinguished by lyrics written by Pete Townshend, and "Blue Light" is an attempt at funk with a Floydian flavor. Gilmour's strength at ballad writing is evidenced in "Out of the Blue," while the obligatory instrumental is "Let's Get Metaphysical." The album closer is, appropriately enough, the song "Near the End." All in all an essential album in any Floyd fan's collection.

• Format: CD
• Genre: POP
• Released: 09/12/2006