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Martin announces David Gilmour custom signature guitars

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During next week’s NAMM Believe in Music Week, guitar manufacturers C F Martin & Co are introducing a brace of David Gilmour Custom Signature Edition D-35 guitars. Following the 2019 Christie’s Auction, Martin’s partners at Westside Distribution in the UK approached Gilmour, who agreed to collaborate with Martin on a six string and a twelve string D-35. “I was so excited when Westside contacted us about the opportunity to build a signature model for David,” said Fred Greene, Vice President of Product Development at Martin Guitar. “He is one of my all-time favorite guitar players, and having the chance to collaborate with him on an instrument was truly a bucket list moment for me. The collaboration is also a perfect fit for Martin Guitar, a company that shares David’s hope for a more sustainable world that we can leave in good conscience for generations to come.” “Looking back on the design process,” Greene said, “My first thought was that David might want a replica of his 1969 D-35, and, while that would be cool, it would not leave a lot of room for creativity. I was so excited to hear that he was more interested in creating something unique and special to this moment in time. I knew we could provide him with options and features that would allow this new instrument to exist on its own merits, while still drawing upon his original D-35 for inspiration. Much like David’s music, this guitar is a unique and inspirational piece of art that hopefully will inspire others to create their own art.” The Martin Custom Shop created three prototypes that would later be presented to David for feedback. Typically made with rosewood, this is the first time Martin built a three-piece back “35” with sinker mahogany. The 6- and 12-string models are both finished in vintage gloss, a historic process normally available only on the Martin Authentic Series models. Both models have head stamps, as found on early Martin guitars, however, this is the first time in its history that Martin has created special head stamps for an artist signature edition. Both guitars come in a slate blue case, a nod back to the blue case that David’s original D-35 would have left the factory in all those years ago. Finally, and as if all this isn’t already special enough, every guitar bears a custom internal paper label, each one individually signed by David himself. Martin will produce a total of 250 guitars, split between the 6-string and 12-string models. They will be available for purchase at select Martin retailers, with the partnership supporting the David Gilmour Charitable Foundation. For more information, visit www.martinguitar.com/gilmour (http://www.martinguitar.com/gilmour). Photo by Polly Samson

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Us + Them, Delicate Sound and the Saucers’ Roundhouse releases reviewed

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One of Brain Damage’s regular correspondents is Heather Fenton, a frequent visitor to the site. She had the opportunity over the Christmas period to watch three of the biggest releases that came out during 2020 – the Roger Waters Us + Them live recording, the Restored.Re-edited.Remixed version of Pink Floyd’s Delicate Sound of Thunder, and Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets Live At The Roundhouse. Here, she compares and contrasts these markedly different releases. Which one comes out as her favourite? Read on to find out… I finally got round to watching and listening to all the CDs/DVDs and this is what I thought. Going back first to October, and Roger Waters Us + Them (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/roger-waters-us-them-2cd-3lp-dvd-and-blu-ray-announced.html). Having been to the live show at Manchester which was fantastic, then seeing the cinema showing in 2019 which left us feeling depressed, I said I would not get the DVD but of course I did. With Roger the live show is a spectacle and the atmosphere lifts the audience, but when its just you and the screen it lacks the lightness. Don’t get me wrong, it was still very good but even revisiting Dark Side and all he is now very removed from Pink Floyd, which is what he wanted. The interpretation is all his but even a lot of the old favourites are more of a cover version (not tribute band) and come across hard especially when interspersed with his own more recent compositions. You would not want to play this every night! Pink Floyd’s Delicate Sound of Thunder (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/the-restored.-re-edited.-remixed.-delicate-sound-of-thunder-being-rel.html) though was everything we have come to expect. The sound quality was greatly enhanced and as for the visual definition, it’s now so sharp and the colours very vivid – almost iridescent – in Time. A joy to watch and an excellent worthy addition to the collection, and maybe one day Venice will follow suit. But although Delicate Sound Of Thunder was excellent, a higher accolade would have to go to Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets Live At The Roundhouse (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/nick-masons-saucerful-of-secrets-live-at-the-roundhouse-2lp-2cd-dvd-blu-ray-ci-2.html). This leaves you with a real “feel-good factor”. Light hearted, beautifully put together, lovely interviews throughout with the band members, and fascinating how they all got together. The songs and music are perfectly executed. Bet Gary Kemp never though he would perform Vegetable Man, and the split of Atom Heart Mother was inspiring. This is the one you can play over and over again and although there’s not the visual spectacle of the other two, it allows you just to watch the action and really enjoy the performances. Well done Nick and the band! Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Heather! We always welcome contributions from our visitors – if you’ve got anything you want to share with the wider community, please get in touch!

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The Lyrics Of Syd Barrett – reminder, and book and print offer

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Back on September 7th, 2020, we told you about the upcoming book, The Lyrics of Syd Barrett (https://www.brain-damage.co.uk/latest/new-book-the-lyrics-of-syd-barrett.html). As a reminder, this is due for publication by Omnibus in Europe on February 18th (just over a month away) and in North America, on May 6th. Featuring 52 songs and a foreword by Pink Floyd’s first manager, Peter Jenner, and an introduction by Rob Chapman (author of Syd Barrett: A Very Irregular Head), this beautifully illustrated and official 96-page book compiles Syd’s extraordinary lyrics together for the very first time. David Gilmour has been a key person behind this book, working his way through Syd lyrics checking them for accuracy before the book went to the printers. As the publisher’s rightly note, “legendary Pink Floyd founding member Syd Barrett’s songwriting was unique, memorable and utterly brilliant.” This book is sure to be a popular choice for many; Syd’s lyrics were captivating, sometimes playful, sometimes dark and painful, but always unforgettable. Alongside the lyrics are rare photos and artwork. London based The Flood Gallery are offering the book in an exclusive bundle, coupling it with their numbered and artist signed Cream-Main Edition Syd Barrett poster – a limited edition of 85 – or only £10 extra. You can place your orders at TheFloodGallery.com (https://www.thefloodgallery.com/products/the-lyrics-of-syd-barrett?variant=37841572462762). Other than The Flood Gallery, you can also order the book itself (the print is exclusive to the gallery) through the following links, which in the post-Brexit world might be preferable for some outside the UK. Ordering through our links also helps with BD’s ongoing running costs, and we really appreciate it: Amazon UK (https://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1787602567/braindamage-21), Amazon.com (https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1787602567/braindamage-20), Amazon Canada (https://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/1787602567/braindamageon-20),
Amazon France (https://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/ASIN/1787602567/braindamageon-21), Amazon Germany (https://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/1787602567/braindamage0f-21), Amazon Spain (https://www.amazon.es/gp/product/1787602567/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8 tag=braidama01-21 linkCode=as2 camp=3626 creative=24822 creativeASIN=1787602567) and Amazon Italy (https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/1787602567/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8 camp=3370 creative=24114 creativeASIN=1787602567 1 linkCode=as2 tag=bradamonl-21).