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85 of 87 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
David Gilmour is a rock legend., September 26, 2008
In 2006 David Gilmour appeared live in Gdansk shipyard, transformed now into a rock venue for thousands of adoring Polish fans of legacy rock. David Gilmour's band is evenly matched by the Baltic Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Zbigniew Preisner: who worked with him on his On An Island album. The strings are never overbearing or too much as is so often the case where anyone attempts to render rock in a classical way. Performed whole here, the work is improved by the setting - the stately grandeur sounding custom-made for huge arenas - along with a brace of Pink Floyd classics. It's stirring stuff, as you'd expect.
Co-produced by Phil Manzanera, who also plays in the band, the sound is crisp and detailed. David's voice is in top form and his playing has never sounded better.
One may think that considering there is an orchestra playing with Gilmour the music would have a different sound, this couldn't be further from the truth. It's almost as if there is no orchestra present with the exception of one song that you can really make out the orchestra and that is "Comfortably Numb" featuring one of the best keyboard players ever on vocals Richard Wright.
The real joy for any Pink Floyd fan has to be the accompanying DVD which, while highlighting Gilmour's rather anonymous stage presence in the face of gigantic stage spectacle, still allows you to see why he remains the furthest out of the remaining members, staying true to the music that made him a star. The bonus documentary is also most worthwhile.
As you'd expect, generous portions of Pink Floyd's most famous albums are represented here. You get "Breathe" and "Time" from Dark Side Of The Moon, and "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" and the title track of Wish You Were Here. So far, so good.
The true "wow" moments come in the form of truly amazing versions of Pink Floyd's earlier material like "Fat Old Sun," and especially "Astronomy Domine," which sounds cleaner than you could ever imagine here, while losing none of its original psychedelicized abandon.
Cap it off with a mind-bending version of the psychedelic epic "Echoes," and you've got yourself something pretty close to a definitive document of these songs performed in a modern-day concert setting.
Long story short, this is some great stuff. The band sounds flawless, and it's a great set list.
Listening to this set is a bit sad at times by the sad demise of founding Pink Floyd member, Richard Wright, it's odd to be listening to what may be one of his last recorded performances. So, while this is David Gilmour's project, it also serves as a reminder as to why Richard Wright was such an important part of that indefinably English progressive psychedelia that epitomized what Pink Floyd was about in the early days. It's his plaintive, leslies piano that pings out the intro to Echoes, and also his Hammond B3 that funks up that middle section. Likewise, Shine On You Crazy Diamond owes so much to his understated synth intro. To see him at home at the heart of David Gilmour's band is a testament to his quiet contribution to a lost British institution. Also to hear him sing on Comfortable Numb is truly a moving experience and not to be missed.
With that said, there is still reason to be joyful. While it can now safely be said that there will never be a Pink Floyd reunion, David Gilmour's Live In Gdansk, is a very satisfying live document that not only features Richard Wright prominently, but does so with a set list that dips pretty deeply into Pink Floyd's long and storied catalog.
One thing that live Pink Floyd albums of the past lacked was an inclusion of "Echoes", easily the greatest song from their entire catalog. Lucky for us, David Gilmour performed the heck out of this song and included it on this double disc and DVD as well. Don't fret, this is "Echoes" in all of it's twenty five minute grandeur, it includes all the bombast, all the ambiance, and all the majesty, and if that weren't enough, it adds more intensity than the original. The heavy drum sections have more bite and the guitar solos scream just that much louder. If you haven't quite picked it up yet, you should run out to any store that sells this album and without a moment to think buy it then insert disc two in your CD player, and put on track five and turn the volume up loud and get ready to rock.
The 3rd CD I received with my 2CD/2DVD set was the song "Wot's...Uh The Deal?" that couldn't fit on the other 2 Cds.
The first DVD features the concert while not in it's entirety is very well done and have a documentary.
The bonus DVD features 11 previously unreleased tracks and an acoustic vertion of "Echoes" and 3 brand new track titled "Barn Jam".
There is also a nicely done booklet that tells you all the tracks and people that made this set possible.
David Gilmour can play the guitar and sax like no one else, and this live performance is a testament to that. Any Floyd fan should own this solely based on the fact that "Echoes" is included in its entirety. It's also rather fitting that this was released shortly after Richard Wright passed away. It's one of the final mementos we can take away from an overlooked but incredible artist.
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31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Companion Piece To Remember., September 28, 2008
Pink Floyd fans have been on a roller coaster of emotions in the first part of the 21st Century, and this excellent document takes us back to An Island of Pink Floyd and Gilmour/Wright magic one last time. It is the final encore for Richard Wright, one of the greatest (and humblest) musical geniuses of all time (despite being a founding member of Pink Floyd and deserving a co-billing with David Gilmour, he chose to let David Gilmour have sole billing)and the last spark of the Pink Floyd magic flame, which has sadly gone out at this time with the passing of Wright. David Gilmour still has many great albums in him, and Roger Waters is still making new music, but without Wright, there will be no more great Floyd music.
In 2005, Floyd fans got a surprise that brought our moods up and raised our hopes when the classic line up got together one last time at Live 8. Even though it was a farewell performance, there was a chance another world changing event would bring the band back together for another brief performance.
Then the first sucker punch of Syd Barrett's passing smashed away the mysterious character that we all hoped would at least come out one last time to play something before going into hiding again. That would never happen now.
Then, David Gilmour's On An Island hit the shelves. I bought it just because I am a fan of PF and wanted to see what Gilmour was up to. I expected it to be a decent album. It was not. It was an outstanding album that, despite not being called Pink Floyd, was more like pink Floyd's classic sound that anything since Wish You Were Here. It hearkened back to Pre DSOTM Floyd in a big way. It was another great peak on the roller coaster ride. There was still more to go, though, as Remember That Night came out with an excellent show and appearances, for one last time, with ALL FOUR members of classic Floyd, including a heart-warming meeting of two old friends. (You have to watch the documentaries to find them all.) This was another high point.
Then another low point; At the Syd Barrett Tribute show, Roger Waters did a solo performance and the Waters-Less Floyd did a separate performance, putting doubt into the chance of any future reunion gigs, which has now turned from doubt into an ever-resounding NO with the passing of Wright.
Finally, after another rise of the return of Waters to the stage and the possibility of a new Waters album, as well as the announcement of this very product, things were good again.
Then we were given a hard and violent kick in the gut by fate as the ever private Wright, who had kept his illness out of the public eye passed away from cancer, which he kindly kept hidden from the fans.
The release of this set is possibly the last trip up on the roller coaster, as we get a chance to see Mr. Gilmour and Mr. Wright perform their magic along with Mr. Manzanera, Mr. DiStanislao, Mr. Carin, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Parry and an orchestra one last time, as well as have a souvenir to take with us and listen to in the car or wherever we enjoy listening to CDs. This set is a bittersweet farewell to a man, a band, and "softly spoken magic spell" that cannot be spoken ever again. Thanks to all of the band, and everyone responsible for this.
The quality of the CDs and the DVDs is excellent, and you can tell a lot of work went into this, as well as a lot of love. Yes, this is a quality product, and it is a way for us to enjoy the legacy of this great act, along with Remember That Night.
We'll remember both nights for a long time to come, and the Echoes will never fade. Now I just hope I can watch and listen to the mournful masterpiece once without breaking into a fit of tears....
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17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
1st DVD and all the CDs are awesome, September 23, 2008
I just picked up this version plus bonus cd at Best Buy today.
If you are a David Gilmour fan, this is a must have item. Also,
this could be Richard Wright's last great performance with the band.
Sorry to hear that he died of cancer just one week ago. This alone
made this a must have item for me.
I have only watched the first DVD in this set and all I can say
is the video and audio are simply awesome.
Many of David's previous tunes are featured on this set accompanied
by the Baltic Philharmonic Orchestra, giving it a slightly different
sound which I really enjoyed.
The sound is more detailed and polished than in the previous
'Remember That Night' DVD which I would also give 5 stars.
I cannot wait to hear the rest of the CD's and the other DVD in
this set!
Update: I just listened to all he CDs and I was struck by the
incredible detail and dynamic range they have. Much better range
than my 13 year old CD set of Pink Floyd's 'Pulse' concert which
certainly is no slouch.
At this point I'm not sure if these CDs are a direct clone of the
DVD or not. It doesn't appear to be, but I could be wrong.
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