About Face: David Gilmour
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Topic: About Face: David Gilmour
Posted By: SteveG
Subject: About Face: David Gilmour
Date Posted: February 18 2015 at 16:39
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Gilmour's second solo album is awesome at times. I love the song Murder. What's your opinion of About Face?
------------- This message was brought to you by a proud supporter of the Deep State. |
Replies:
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: February 18 2015 at 18:21
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I like all of it, even/especially Blue Light. Peter Townshend wrote some good lyrics for it (Love on the Air and All Lovers are Deranged), but Dave's lyrics are pretty good in spots too - a nice sharp tune pointed at Roger Waters (You Know I'm Right), a solemn lament for mankind in the wake of the nuclear war many thought was right around the corner (Out of the Blue), an ironic love song to a cruise missile (Cruise), a meditation on death (Until we Sleep), and yes, the murder of John Lennon (Murder). I personally think it's the best foot he's yet put forward in terms of establishing himself as an independent creative force outside the grip of Pink Floyd. It's got his trademark guitar, but the songs don't sound like Floyd songs, and yes, they've got commercial potential. Unfortunately, it just didn't take off the way he hoped it would, so then it was back to the drawing board that gave us Momentary Lapse of Reason - a good album in itself, but I've always wished he could have pursued the direction taken on About Face further. It took about 20 years for him to finally do it with On An Island. That's a good album but a bit two-dimensional, even predictable. But still a welcome album, no doubt, and one I'm proud to own, even if I usually skip 2-3 tracks while it plays. It doesn't have the vitality of a bona fide commercial proposition by a young hungry viable modern performer, like About Face had. There looked for a moment like there may be life after Floyd for Dave. Now it's kind of too late for that. ------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: February 18 2015 at 21:41
| I like it better than his first one. Some really good songs, specially Murder and Near the End, which I really love and would put along with the best Pink Floyd. However, I wish a live album from this tour would be released, for I have heard some of them live and they sound so much better (the very best part of the guitar solo of Murder on the live version begins where the studio version ends, making that one sound a bit tame in coparison). |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: February 18 2015 at 23:21
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I'm sure a thread of this has been done before..... No a bad album, some notable guests, some good material. I do enjoy You May Be Right, Murder, Out Of The Blue and definitely Near The End.... .......don't think much of Cruise, Until We Sleep, Blue Light and All Lovers Are Deranged. The other tracks are in-between. Still, not an excruciating listen. |
Posted By: Intruder
Date Posted: July 24 2015 at 21:13
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Dave's first album was a bare boned guitar album....it could have used a little sweetening here and there, but a solid release nonetheless. About Face was his attempt to "make it big".....lots of shiny production and, at times, the lyrics (and production) are at the fore, which deemphasizes what we turn to Gilmore albums for in the first place - that guitar. On an Island focuses on guitar and atmosphere, but it drags and all the tracks seems to bleed into each other.....still can't tell which cut is which even after a few years of listening. ------------- I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there..... |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: July 24 2015 at 21:25
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^ Absolutely correct on every count. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: aglasshouse
Date Posted: July 24 2015 at 23:45
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Gilmour with a heavy edge and extremely enjoyable. Found it to be more enjoyable than most of Waters' stuff. ------------- http://fryingpanmedia.com |
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 00:06
| I like better his first solo album. |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 13:55
Gilmour ran out of ideas with his first solo album, an the leftovers were used in The Wall) AF is about the worst Floyd-alumni album ever recorded, riddled with awful 80's productions and idiotic Collins/EW&F brass) Saw Gilmour on that tour (with Ralphs on guitar), but the concert was very average. |
SteveG wrote:Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 14:49
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Not as good as his first but then both are mediocre imho. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 15:07
"Murder" is the best post-Wall song of Floyd or any member of Floyd. I appreciate Gilmour not sticking with a formulaic regurgitation of the Floyd shtick, and presenting himself as an individual performer, which I think he did admirably on this album. ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 15:22
IMO that best post Floyd song is this one..... ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 15:27
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Sorry Wu, but I think this has more power and feeling. Great acoustic, nice fretless bass line and killer ending: ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: aglasshouse
Date Posted: July 25 2015 at 18:50
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Waters wanted to stick to the Floyd aesthetic by producing concept albums which rarely left any impact. Gilmour did more of what he wanted to do and I pride him for it. ------------- http://fryingpanmedia.com |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: July 26 2015 at 10:58
 ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: July 26 2015 at 11:16
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Either underrated or one of my guilty pleasures. This album has a lot of good songs to enjoy: Until We Sleep, Murder, Out of the Blue (my favourite), Let's Get Metaphysical and Near the End. And most of the others are enjoyable as well. ------------- 
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Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: July 26 2015 at 11:30
Well Wu, it seems we've reached an impasse -- another brick in the wall, if you will.  ------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: Horizons
Date Posted: July 26 2015 at 11:40
I actually just got this album and listened to it for the first time. Def a stand out track. Liked it a lot. What are the thoughts on his debut?
------------- Crushed like a rose in the riverflow. |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: July 26 2015 at 12:17
I think it's the best solo thing by any of the Floyd members (can't stand most of Water's work,,,his voice is awful and his songs are too angst ridden for me.).....though from the other poll many like Barrett by Syd of course. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: July 26 2015 at 18:37
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DG is a very good guitar album and excellent first solo try. Waters has taken more chances and expanded his sound much more, so it depends what one responds to. If you like straight-forward, David Gilmour is a nice treat. Better? Hard to say. ------------- "Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." -- John F. Kennedy |
Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: July 26 2015 at 23:59
Come on Hughes...idiotic EW&F brass/Collins.....that stuff was brilliant  has that 80's feel for sure.------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 00:03
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVvgoI1YvJM&list=PL3D151F45287469FA&index=7" rel="nofollow - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVvgoI1YvJM&list=PL3D151F45287469FA&index=7 the best off About Face.....
------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 01:27
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Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 05:40
that's exactly what I mean!!!  |
Posted By: progaardvark
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 07:35
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I used to dismiss About Face many years ago. It had some good stuff, but I felt that some of the more radio-friendly brought the album down. Nowadays I have found that this album has grown on me and I think my earlier dismissal was shortsighted. I actually like it better than his debut. And further, to put it into the context of what else was released at that time, the album is really one of very few shining lights amidst a sea of mediocrity. ------------- ---------- i'm shopping for a new oil-cured sinus bag that's a happy bag of lettuce this car smells like cartilage nothing beats a good video about fractions |
Posted By: someone_else
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 08:25
I fully agree with this. 1984 was one of the poorest years. -------------
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Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 08:37
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1984 isn't exactly my favourite year when it comes to prog releases, but there were some absolute gems released that year (albums I'd pop on the ol stereo long before About Face). Jean-Paul Prat - Masal Marillion - Fugazi Univers Zero - Uzed Solaris - Marsbéli Krónikák Los Jaivas - Obras de Violeta Parra Cardiacs - The Seaside News From Babel - Work Resumed On The Tower Etron Fou Lebloulan - Les Sillons de la Terre Yog Sothoth - s/t Uppsala - s/t ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 08:38
 Gotta love this place. ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 08:50
Actually things got worse from 86 to 89 (and the 80's sounds as well)... early in the decade, there were still some bands that resisted "going 80's" for a while unfortunately Gilmour didn't (but Waters did IMHO, despite a weaker KAOS)... Not only for About Face, but especially for AMLOR.   >> AMLOR is (sadly) the next Gilmour solo album!! 
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exactly what I meant!!! Posted By: Guldbamsen
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 09:01
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I guess that's the main PA lesson: one man's gold is another man's sh*te. ...and i wouldn't have it any other way  ------------- “The Guide says there is an art to flying or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.” - Douglas Adams |
Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 10:12
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The thing about bands playing in the 80s, nearly everyone sounded like they were playing in the 80s, even the most important prog folk: Peter Gabriel (So, anyone?), Yes (Owner of a Wicked Fart), King Crimson (Discipline, their ode to Talking Heads), Marillion, Genesis, Tull, etc. Whether you appreciate 1980s sound/studio values is another question, but the conventional wisdom then was no one was going to sell an album in the 80s reduplicating exact 1960s psych or 1970s prog. We look back in hindsight and denigrate the artists but I recall the pressure back then was immense to compete with the musical crap being spawned at the time. I am sure today we would have appreciated Ian Anderson having the balls to make another 45 minute-long album-stretching song in 1984 or Yes making a double album consisting of four 18 to 20 minute-long songs in 1987, but it would have been suicidal from a Billboard standpoint. The chance to gamble on such albums was a peculiar and wonderful aspect of the early 70s. As I mentioned previously, Gilmour's About Face was an obvious and intended shift away from Pink Floyd (and I think Gilmour's collaboration with Pete Townshend, Love on the Air, was brilliant), whereas albums like A Momentary Lapse of Reason was a Pink Floyd knock-off and Roger Waters 80s releases following up the dreary Final Cut with more dreariness. I appreciate Gilmour's attempt.
------------- ...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology... |
Posted By: SteveG
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 16:44
| 1984. The year prog was officially pronounced dead. Run Gilmour, run! |
Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: July 27 2015 at 23:30
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^^ I am not sure artists deliberately tried to steer away from prog. I think the 80's was just more ' dateable' than other decades because of some cheesy synths and drum machines. Radio Kaos does have a slither of 80's 'date' to it but overall manages superbly as an album with great production as always by Roger Waters. If you look at About Face and even SO by Peter Gabriel it was a fashion trend running through the music at the time. Just look at the artist pics on the album covers or even Kate Bush and PG singing the now cringeworthy " Don't Give Up'. We all wore the 80's man in one form or another we just didnt realize it at the time...LOL Again some of the best music from the 80's does not date. Talk Talk Spirit Of Eden, or Talking Heads - Remain In Light or even The Final Cut....incredible. ------------- ...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR] |
Posted By: Intruder
Date Posted: August 01 2015 at 21:43
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Cringeworthy? Don't Give Up? Nooooo......well, maybe. Not many PG songs played at high school proms, eh? ------------- I like to feel the suspense when you're certain you know I am there..... |
Posted By: TODDLER
Date Posted: August 10 2015 at 21:39
Great song! Haven't heard the album in years and I've been thinking about purchasing it lately.
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Posted By: aliano
Date Posted: August 11 2015 at 02:40
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Near the End guitar solo is one of DG's best moments. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: August 11 2015 at 06:52
| I actually thought this : regarding the 80's sound - if I can recall accurately, when I was in High School and started digging Prog (and music in general) I always thought the production of songs by Yes, Gabriel, Genesis, Floyd, even Chicago etc. were state-of-the-art and sounded pristine and fresh. Sure, these sounds are stuck in the 80's, they haven't aged well at all, so we do tend to cringe a bit these days, but it doesn't mean such things as About Face are bad. About Face was about Gilmour, and he did fairly well, all things considered. |
Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: August 11 2015 at 07:47
Tom, remember when we came across this vinyl (dirty, filthy, dusty, smelly, grotty vinyl) at that Hippy Haven place in Belgrave?! How much did the guy want for it, wasn't it something like $50?! Pretty sure he must have been...dammit, where's the emoticon gone for the guy smoking the big fat spliff?!
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Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: August 11 2015 at 13:07
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^ Dude, I've never been to Hippie Haven, though I recall you telling me this
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Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: August 11 2015 at 19:31
Oh no! Perhaps I'm the one who was high as a kite!  Urgh, I still think I've got the dirt on my hands from going through all their records, just in filthy condition! |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: August 11 2015 at 21:49
Just as with Murder, the solo on Near the End is much more gorgeous on the live version (the song extended even longer than Murder). Do I wish that concert were re-released on DVD/CD. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: August 12 2015 at 01:22
- but I remember quite clearly your disgust with that place, and I think you said it was $60 !! I think some random dude added a 0 to the $6 price tag . Truly, I went to a market at the weekend just gone, and there was a small stall with vinyl, CD and books - nothing special (Soft Machine 7 and Land Of Cockayne, and Floyd's Piper was about as good as it got -$20 each) but he had Rolling Stones albums for $40 and even the little dbl 7" Magical Mystery Tour pack for $100 !! I got mine for $8.........
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Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: November 03 2015 at 08:28
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The live version of Blue Light played at the Rockpalast in 1984 with Pete Townsend and an 18 members band including that percussionist I'll never remember the name, the same girl who played on Oldfield's millennium concert... I'll never forget that live. There should be something on youtube. ------------- I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution |
Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: November 04 2015 at 00:21
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I like About Face a lot, nothing wrong with it. I prefer AF to both On an Island and the new one. I even prefer AF to both Roger Waters albums from the 80s.  |
Posted By: Svetonio
Date Posted: November 04 2015 at 00:56
This is groundreaking live version of Townshend's Give Blood the song, featuring David Gilmour, Simon Phillips on drums and Jody Lincott on percussion, and many others (actually Townshend's touring band called The Deep End). And Pete Townshend in a great form. 80s English Art Rock at its best! And this is the killer version of Gilmour's Blue Light that you mentioned above, with Pete Townshend & The Deep End, where Jody Linscott and Simon Phillips' drums+percussions solo is outwordly. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: November 04 2015 at 02:36
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We can talk-up the merits of About Face (there are many) - it is a product of its time, just like Rattle That Lock is now. On An Island I find a bit more 'personal', and doesn't fit into a 'standard' genre. This one is more Floydian, than solo-Gilmour. Anything Gilmour contributes to, is always a joy (Macca's No More Lonely Nights, Arcadia - which was a Duran Duran spin-off, Supertramp, Bryan Ferry etc.). When the guitar solo kicks in, you just know it's Gilmour. |
Posted By: uduwudu
Date Posted: November 07 2015 at 00:53
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About Face was DG doing a contemporary rock album with a little help from his freinds. It was also a time when he tried to sell seats in a cinema (150 I think) and a few people turned up. Only PF heads knew the name. No wonder it took him a while to establish an identity. Same with Roger Waters, he always (at the time) had to add "y'know... Pink Floyd..." to get through the public mind. This was part of the reason why PF's name was reconstituted. It is really very difficult for the public to know a name derived from another, lots of explanations and only music freaks really know or care. Don't currently have a copy (I awlasy keep thinking they either will be, should be remastered so I wait.). But I had the LP and it was great, even had the Blue Light 12" single. (I'd probably get anything remotely PF oriented...) The Deep End concert (s) were great and funny. Townshend introduces DG, he grunts, (PT remarks to the audience that's all they're going to get from him tonight. I think they also played some music. As "bare bones" as the first is it does have a strong, musically consistently conceptual vibe in a nice menacingly but cruisy way. Loved it, love it. Needs a resissue witha DVD with the videos (some of which are live rehearsal shoots.) On An Island I thought in similar veign (musically conceptually consistent. A long denouement. Not yet checked out the new one - heard the single and was not amused. I even read that the guitar solos are "mercifully brief". Christ in a bucket - I don't want brief DG solos!? How is that promoting the thing? Like FZ's more extended flights I love it when his scorched earth guitar is going on for however long it's possible. This is what I want form a DG album. Good voice, appealing interesting songs, tension and his brilliant bloody guitar solos. This was why he was one of the most sought after guitar soloists in the 1980s. Tghis was why Waters got him for his spot in the second Wall movie. He couldn't sell out a cinema yet appeared on 100s of sessions. He made a Berlin album enjoyable... (Count Three And Pray). Looking forward to the live album... |
Posted By: octopus-4
Date Posted: November 07 2015 at 02:30
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Rattle That Lock has left me very disappointed. Bought, listened three times and nothing more. If it's a product of its time, we are in a bad time. A jazz song is not enough. ------------- I stand with Roger Waters, I stand with Joan Baez, I stand with Victor Jara, I stand with Woody Guthrie. Music is revolution |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: November 07 2015 at 22:51
If you did enjoy his previous solo albums, I think you should really check this one out. Even if it doesn't have such long solos, it's got lot's of very good songs... and the title song isn't among the best of the album... even though I do have warmed up to the song after several listens and I can really say I like it now. I think overall this is the solo album I have liked the best from him... the one with the most songs I really like, and the one I enjoy listening to the most as a whole (even if On an Island holds itself better as a unity). |
Posted By: Follix
Date Posted: November 08 2015 at 23:51
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I strongly believe that ''In Any Tongue'' is the best solo song he ever did. The album itself... It goes in a lot of different direction from pop to folk rock to spacey instrumentals to jazz... It's pretty hard to like everything but it's hard to hate everything as well I would say I enjoy 6 or 7 of the 10 songs. |
Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: November 09 2015 at 21:01
| I like most of the album (rattle that lock), perhaps only one or 2 songs I don't care much about, but I think I don't really dislike any song either. I still need to listen to it more times. However, "In Any Tongue" is indeed among my favourites from the album (though saying it's my favourite from his solo career would be a stretch). From this album I also like a lot "Faces of Stone"... I think this two songs, at least, will go among my favourites from his solo albums (along with "Murder", "Near the End" and "On an Island"). |