ABOUT FACE

A most enjoyable album, but even one of the most star-studded lineups ever assembled for a solo record can't disguise the fact that DAVID GILMOUR is not a solo artist.

This album features a who's who of rock. Along with the lyrics of PETE TOWNSEND and arrangements of MICHAEL KAMEN and BOB EZRIN, the songs are graced by members of THE ELTON JOHN BAND, ART OF NOISE, DEEP PURPLE and TRAFFIC, just to name a few. So the music will be eclectic and challenging, with a real edge, right?

Wrong. This is DAVID GILMOUR, after all, whose gift to the rock world was to smooth out the spiky genius of ROGER WATERS and make PINK FLOYD accessible to millions. He does exactly the same here, smoothing out the sound until it is almost indistinguishable from standard 80s fare.

Nevertheless, it does at least offer some outstanding guitar. The acoustic solo to finish the album, for example, is fabulous. And GILMOUR'S vocals are as excellent as ever. But I doubt he would have sold many units had it not been for his involvement with PINK FLOYD.

Along with this, the songs have some meaning. I enjoyed 'Cruise', for example, and can only imagine what ROGER would have done with it!

If you have to have a DAVID GILMOUR solo offering, I'd recommend this one. But I admit I'm in a minority.