DAVID GILMOUR IN CONCERT

I'll probably just repeat what's been already said in 10 previous collab reviews from years ago, but this highly pleasant DVD deserves yet another recommendation. What makes this David Gilmour gig special is the warm and sincere atmosphere, something totally different than the machinery-like precision in the latter-day Pink Floyd DVD's such as P.U.L.S.E. where the performances tend to duplicate the album versions in a rather clinical way and the lavish visual elements steal the show -- which of course can be awesome too, but this one makes a very nice counterpart to them. Partly the warmth comes from the relative intimacy of the venue; the audience is nearer to the musicians and therefor the interaction between the musicians and the audience is more palpable. At some point someone asks something from Animals to be performed, and even though David reasonably turns the request down, it's a sympathetic, honest moment of interaction.

Agreeably 'Shine On... (Parts 1-5)' doesn't function very well as a ripped down acoustic version (all the time I expected David soon to switch to an electric guitar), but on the other hand it's interesting to have this different version. Dick Parry joins on saxophone during the piece. The live line-up at its fullest features also Michael Kamen on piano, beautiful Caroline Dale on cello, Nic France on percussion, Neill MacColl on acoustic guitar (dual guitars are obviously much needed especially on 'Wish You Were Here') and a gospel choir led by Sam Brown. The choir is another key factor to bring heartfelt sincerity to the performances. Songs such as 'High Hopes' and 'A Great Day for Freedom' have enjoyable, more intimate versions here.

In addition to a few other songs of Pink Floyd and Gilmour's solo output such as 'Smile' which some years later was included in the album On an Island (2006), the set contains some interesting surprises. 'Je crois entendre encore' is a melancholic opera aria from Georges Bizet's Les Pecheurs de Perles and suits pretty well for this line-up. 'Dimming of the Day' is a serene Richard Thompson penned song originally sung by his wife Linda Thompson, and 'Terrapin' and 'Dominoes' are Syd Barrett's songs. As nice as it is to see Robert Wyatt guesting on 'Comfortably Numb', his vocals in it are only so-and-so. In the end -- taken from another live date -- the same song is guested by Bob Geldof (the main actor in Pink Floyd The Wall movie), who does a more convincing participation. And of course Rick Wright (r.i.p. 2008) coming to sing and play 'Breakthrough' from his 1996 album Broken China is a memorable moment.

The bonus materials are diverse and well edited. On 'Shakespeare's Sonnet 18' Gilmour only sings to Kamen's piano. I like that. 'Home Movie' shows David in his home studio rehearsing the Bizet aria with the gospel choir, and so on. Pretty down-to-earth stuff, further widening the contrast to the mentioned Pink Floyd DVD's. This DVD is an excellent and unique addition for anyone wanting to have a good selection of Floyd and related.