An Open Letter to David Gilmour II
Dear David,
I’ve listened to your sound for as long as I can remember—indeed, from before birth—my parents always loved Pink Floyd.
Your music has affected me deeply, continuously…Before I was old enough to hear the nuances, messages, I simply loved the landscape of sound. When listening to Pink Floyd time and music don’t ‘pass’, they stay, original and pertinent—a characteristic of great music that you can listen time and again and still find new layers and renewed inspiration. This timeless music comes from the heart, from blues, from Buddy Guy and Jimi Hendrix, from Ali Farka Touré and Miles Davis and Bach and Rachmaninoff and David Gilmour.
You have created soundscapes where I traveled and lost myself many times… Through some of your lyrics I see landmarks which have illuminated my understanding of the world and the sources of many of its problems in this pathless land my mind navigates.
“Now frontiers shift like desert sands
While nations wash their bloodied hands
Of loyalty, of history, in shades of gray”1
More recently, I like On An Island very much. Listening to the album makes me feel like I’m truly on an island, and if I’m not, makes me crave traveling to one, getting away.
I like Steve Knee’s graphic design for the album, too, and also Andy Watt’s understated photographs of Kastelorizo and Polly Samson’s black and white images documenting the recording of the album.
Your work usually encompasses everything else as well as the music: graphic design, theater, photography, materials…The whole. It is evident you are a craftsman and care about all that you do, including effects on people and the environment.
If you read this and are curious about this Generous Alphabet Project of ours, please read on and consider owning a letter! And if you are in need of one more photographer at any time, please let me know!
My best wishes and warmest regards!
— Simon (and Stratocaster!)
1 A Great Day For Freedom, The Division Bell.
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