There were thrills for everyone but the Telegraph after David Gilmour's Royal Albert Hall performance, and even their excitement was revived by a surprise appearance from David Bowie for the final two songs of the evening.

With comparisons to Pink Floyd dominating most reviews, the Telegraph declared that "a patchy show miraculously pipped Pink Floyd for drama in the end" and the Times concluded that it "not only echoed, but surely rivalled" the band's glories.

For the Evening Standard "the feeling that Gilmour is winning the battle of Pink Floyd hard to ignore: at least until July, when [founding member Roger] Waters brings his show to town".

In a "near-perfect", "meticulously constructed" gig, Gilmour's emotive dignity in performing from Dark Side of the Moon gave way to the "balm for the senses" of his new album, according to the Independent.

The Times, too, praised On An Island as "mellifluous" and "supremely graceful" and appreciated the "magisterial performance with an air of calm humility" of less exposed Floyd songs (which, as the Standard pointed out, were conveniently all post-Waters.)

But for the Telegraph the repertoire was over-filled with "obscurities, delivered with a bizarre lack of flair," and the album "tasteful but uneventful."

Still, the light show was rather good for everyone.