Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour confirmed that himself back in March 2023. The real question therefore is when? When Gilmour was asked about new music last March he talked about planning to make a new album but wasn’t sure when.
He hoped it wouldn’t take too long. But there is already quite a gap since his last album in September 2015, Rattle That Lock. There are promising signs though that the wait might not be for too much longer now. A 2024 album release could well be on the way.
Gilmour himself hasn’t said or revealed much. But his wife Polly Samson may have given the secret away. Samson has used her Instagram account to share quite a few pictures showing Gilmour and other musicians at work in the British Grove Studios.
A new David Gilmour album looks likely
Owned now by Mark Knopfler the studios do have a Pink Floyd and a Gilmour connection. Richard Wright used the studio to re-record a missing piano part for a remixed version of the Wish You Were Here album. Gilmour’s 2006 album On An Island was recorded there too.
Amongst those appearing in Samson’s pictures is bassist Guy Pratt, a Pink Floyd stalwart. Pratt is also a member of Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets band. There’s also drummer Adam Betts, Brian Eno’s brother, pianist Roger Eno, Goldie, and producer Charlie Andrew. It’s not quite a let’s get the band back together vibe, but enough to suggest there is something very new in the offing.
Another clue about a new David Gilmour album
In an additional clue, Samson also revealed a little more in an interview last December with Romanian media Zile Si Nopti about her books. Samson of course has also written lyrics for songs on The Division Bell album by Pink Floyd and several other songs by Gilmour. In that interview when asked about the future, she explained that she was working with Gilmour on new songs.
It is possible that the studio work is in advance of some live appearances. Gilmour last appeared on stage back in 2016 with a six-night run at the Royal Albert Hall. But then again, rehearsals needn’t have been in such a prominent or well-equipped studio. And rehearsals or preparation for a gig probably wouldn't have involved writing new songs. So an album, and possibly some live appearances to promote are the likely and attractive prospects for 2024.