‘Rattle That Lock’: when David Gilmour teamed up with a prison choir
Although David Gilmour is undoubtedly a unique creative force, he has never shied away from drawing upon the talents of others. Unlike those who subtly borrow to mask their own creative shortcomings, Gilmour has always done so transparently, using collaboration as a means of enriching his work and addressing areas where additional expertise could elevate his artistry.
For all of his songwriting brilliance, guitar-playing mastery and general ability to bring his resplendent vision to life, one of Gilmour’s greatest strengths is that he is a realist. He knows exactly what he’s done well over the years and, in other instances, what he hasn’t, where he’s been the musical equivalent of Icarus, flying too close to the sun and coming crashing down under the burning heat of egotism and being generally misinformed about his ability.
Outside of Pink Floyd, in his solo career, Gilmour has delivered a more significant dose of himself as an artist and human being. He’s been able to compose freely, unburdened by Roger Waters, his other bandmates, and the general expectation of being in one of the world’s most prominent groups, who, despite their clear arc, always had a definitive sound.
His latest effort, 2024’s Luck and Strange, offered clear insight into how he’s unafraid to kill his creative darlings by breaking off from the past and working with Alt-J producer Charlie Andrew. This much younger figure is not a Pink Floyd aficionado, and he informed him from the onset that they would be making something much different from what came before. While successful and bold, this move was symptomatic of him improving his craft by working with others.
From David Crosby and Graham Nash to Killing Joke bassist Youth, the former Pink Floyd leader has utilised the talents of many others over the years. One of the most surprising came on his previous solo outing, 2015’s Rattle That Lock, where he worked with The Liberty Choir on the title track. Not only did it feature that particular grouping of voices but also Mica Paris, who enjoyed a string of hits across the 1980s and ensuing decade. However, the inclusion of The Liberty Choir was the most significant part of that cut.
Why is this? The 30-strong collection of vocal powerhouses serves a much greater purpose than purely aural satisfaction. The choir is a rehabilitation project featuring former Wandsworth Prison inmates and singers from the local area of southwest London in an incredibly effective, positive social endeavour. However, the story does not end there, and Gilmour has a personal connection to them.
In 2011, when 21 years old, Gilmour’s son, Charlie, was convicted of 16 months in prison after admitting to “violent disorder” at a tuition fees protest in London. Reportedly, this included him hanging from a Union flag on the Cenotaph and leaping on the bonnet of a car in the royal convoy that was taking the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to the Royal Variety Performance.
Explaining why he hired The Liberty Choir for ‘Rattle that Lock’, he told BBC News: “Charlie’s experience was something that has impacted on us and has made us more aware of the prison system and what could and should be done to improve it. We’re just helping out by being part of this initiative, which will hopefully spread.”
Knowing that Gilmour wasn’t just using The Liberty Choir to enrich his sound on the song offers another example of the profoundly human nature of his music. He might have his pitfalls as a creative, but the fact he searches deep within when composing is one of the key reasons he remains so resonant.
