The papers hold Gilmour song lyrics in their folds

David Gilmour, pictured talking to journalist Andrew Marr, has published the lyrics to new songs in local newspapers

Pink Floyd star David Gilmour has publicised his first album in nine years by leaking lyrics to the press.

Gilmour has revealed words to songs from Luck and Strange in advertisements in selected local UK newspapers.

The guitarist, who grew up in Cambridge, announced the move on his website ahead on the album's release on Friday.

Lyrics to one song, The Piper's Call, appeared on page 5 of Thursday's edition of the Cambridge News.

1967 Pink Floyd line-up (left to right) Roger Waters, Nick Mason, Syd Barrett and Rick Wright

"The lyrics to the songs from David Gilmour’s critically-acclaimed new album, Luck and Strange, are to be given their worldwide reveal via adverts in selected local UK newspapers tomorrow (Thursday 5th September), ahead of the album’s release on Friday (6th September)," said an announcement on davidgilmour.com.

"As an added incentive to David’s fans to track down the lyrics in their local paper, each of the seven newspapers which feature an ad with lyrics will also include the character from the album’s cover art hidden somewhere within its pages."

A Rolling Stone magazine website review has described Luck and Strange as a "sometimes beautiful, sometimes chilly dark night of the soul".

Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters photographed in July 2024

The BBC told Pink Floyd's story in a film more than a decade ago.

Floyd have their roots in Cambridge.

The band, first led by singer, songwriter and guitarist Syd Barrett, who lived and died in Cambridge, were at the forefront of Britain's psychedelic era in the 1960s, the BBC film explained.

Barrett drifted out of the band, after experimenting with LSD.

He had helped put Pink Floyd on the map with songs like Arnold Layne and See Emily Play.

Remaining members, including Roger Waters, who also grew up in Cambridge, added Barrett's old friend Gilmour on guitar, so for a short period Floyd had two guitarists.

The Cambridge News carried the lyrics of one of the songs on Gilmour's new album

Lyrics to The Piper's Call published in the Cambridge News

Gradually Roger Waters emerged as the key songwriter, creating concept albums, Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall.

Waters left the band after the 1983 album, The Final Cut.

Gilmour eventually assumed control and produced Pink Floyd albums including A Momentary Lapse of Reason and The Division Bell with the help of Nick Mason and Rick Wright.

Gilmour, Wright and Mason reunited with Waters for Live 8 in 2005's Live 8, playing together for the first time in about 25 years.

A contact sheet showing Pink Floyd backstage at Top of the Pops in 1967. (Left - Right) : Nick Mason, Syd Barrett , Rick Wright, Roger Waters

Gilmour's website explains: "David Gilmour and Roger ‘Syd’ Barrett met as children in Cambridge ... and later began playing guitar together.

"In 1965 Syd co-founded Pink Floyd, while David continued playing with his own bands.

"In 1968, David was asked to augment the Pink Floyd line up as the singer and guitarist, only for Syd to leave the group five gigs later."