As the September 6 release date of David Gilmour’s latest solo album, Luck and Strange, approaches, the Pink Floyd guitarist has debuted a third advance track from the record, “Dark and Velvet Nights.”
Videos by American Songwriter
The mid-tempo rock song is available now via digital formats. In addition, a companion music video has premiere at Gilmour’s YouTube channel. “Dark and Velvet Nights” was co-written by David and wife and longtime lyricist Polly Samson. The tune seems to be a reflection on mortality and, perhaps, on Samson and Gilmour’s romance.
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The video features black-and-white footage of Gilmour working in the studio with his various collaborators. They include drummer Stephen Gadd, bassist Guy Pratt, and co-producer Charlie Andrew. Gilmour and Samson’s daughter, Romany, also appears in the clip, contributing backing vocals.
In addition, the video captures Gilmour playing several guitars, including a lap steel, an acoustic, and two different electric guitars. The clip also features footage of a string section recording their parts.
The video begins and ends with some ominous animation interludes, induing a ghostly character holding a flaming skull, and sinister-looking black birds perched on tree branches.
Gilmour’s New Video Feature Profiling One of His Guitars
Gilmour has been posting a series of videos on his social media pages in which he discusses guitars he plays on various Luck and Strange tracks. In the latest video, he talks about a Gibson E-335 electric model, which he played on “Dark and Velvet Nights.”
“Well, I’ve not got a huge history with Gibson guitars … but this one is one I’ve bought comparatively recently, to have a different tone on different things,” he explained. “It’s a very, very different sort of guitar to what I’m used to. So, the guitar solo on ‘Dark and Velvet Nights’ was done on this one. And I don’t know why I didn’t discover one of these a long time ago.”
Gilmour then played a bluesy riff on the guitar before commenting, “Every time you play a nice guitar that you’re not used to, it gives you something. Sometimes it just gives you a song. But this one is a beauty … lovely.”
More About Luck and Strange
Luck and Strange is available for pre-order now in a variety of formats and configuration. The album features eight original songs, plus a cover of dream-pop duo The Montgolfier Brothers’ 1999 tune “Between Two Points.” Gilmour co-wrote most of the new originals with Samson.
The title track features an electric piano part that late Pink Floyd keyboardist Rick Wright that was recorded during a jam session with Gilmour in 2007.
Romany Gilmour is featured on lead vocals and harp on “Between Two Points.” She also sang harmony on the song “The Piper’s Call.” David’s son Charlie contributed lyrics to the album’s final track, “Scattered.”
“Between Two Points” and “The Piper’s Call” were the first two advance tracks released from the album.
Gilmour’s 2024 Tour Plans
Gilmour’s 2024 tour in support of Luck and Strange kicks off with a six-concert engagement in Rome that runs from September 27 to October 3. That will be followed by a six-show stand at the Royal Albert Hall in London running from October 9 to October 15.
After that Gilmour will head to the U.S. He’ll play an October 25 show at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, followed by October 29, 30, and 31 concerts at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. David’s confirmed 2024 itinerary wraps up with five shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City scheduled from November 4 to November 10.
Tickets for Gilmour’s concerts can be purchased now via a variety of outlets, including StubHub.
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