ABOUT FACE

Gilmour's second album couldn't be more different from his first solo effort from 1978. Even though the song material consists of similar blues-rock, everything that made his self-titled debut into a charming melancholic marvel is missing here. Aboutface is a collection of second-rate blues-pop songs that are produced into plastic dross.

Strangely enough, the most overwrought track of all is the best of all. The vocals in Until We Sleep have that touching hypnotic dreamlike Gilmour quality trademark. The music is a slightly electronic sounding mid-paced drone that doesn't sound like anything he tried before. Take away the 80's production gloss and Gilmour could have made an entrancing 10 minute repetitive kraut trip out of this. The actual result stays far from that potential though.

The other decent moments consist of overstated blues ballads such as Murder, Out of The Blue and Near The End. But nothing can guarantee that you will be able to sit through these dragging songs without falling asleep. The remainder of the album is commercial low-quality pop such as Love On The Air, Blue Light, All Lovers Are Deranged.

Aboutface is a very disappointing album from Gilmour. A few songs and some solos aside there's not much here that will satisfy anybody but ardent Gilmour fans.