David Gilmour - Live In Gdansk

Box set of 2007 live set

Joined by Pink Floyd colleagues Rick Wright, Guy Pratt, Jon Carin and Dick Parry, as well as Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera and a 40-piece orchestra, Gilmour showcased his On An Island and numerous golden oldies in the Polish shipyards where the Solidarity trade union was born.

A suitably impressive backdrop for an equally impressive audio and visual extravaganza, the 2-CD set runs to nearly 160 minutes, kicking off with Floyd classics Speak To Me, Breathe and the timeless, er, Time, before the majestic orchestral Castellorizon, with its looming synths, and the somnolent new title track. Sweet sax on the gloaming of Red Sky At Night and the dreamy riverboat ride of Smile are followed by more milestones in the shape of a 12-minute Shine On You Crazy Diamond and gothic-psych of Astronomy Domine. The slide guitar zephyrs of High Hopes and a 25-minute Echoes also stand out, with a heartfelt A Great Day For Freedom and intense Comfortably Numb closing the 22-song set. An accompanying 15-song DVD and another with a 36-minute documentary add to the lustre.

5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars

EMI | 50999 2 35189 2 6 (2-CD+2-DVD)

Reviewed by Tim Jones
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