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On an Island is an absolutely haunting album that flawlessly conjures images of both tranquility and chaos. Gilmour’s dark, melancholy style has not changed much since his days with Pink Floyd, and the subjects of his inspiration seem to have matured with delicate grace.
I found the beat a bit sluggish on the first listen, though the album definitely grew on me. But make no mistake: this is calming (and almost sleepy) fare. The lyrics can be dulcet; at times, they border on syrupy. Nonetheless, there is a nice, powerful bass line here and the guitar stylings are exceptional. The vocals are exquisite and the overall musicianship is undeniably excellent.
The disc opens with a rich and complex instrumental entitled “Castellorization,” named after a magnificently gorgeous and remote Aegean island. And if you’re curious about how Gilmour got inspiration for this one, you can check out some breathtaking pictures of the place on his site under “Stuff and Nonsense.”
“This Heaven,” with its bluesy undertones, sweet vocals and catchy beat is one of my favorites. “Smile” is melodic with some truly mind-blowing guitar riffs.
If you’re a Pink Floyd fan, you’ll most definitely appreciate this work. So dig out your old black light posters, fire up a stick of your favorite incense, sit back and enjoy.
To listen to tracks from this album, check them out for free at Napster.
