Description

More than 20 years in the making, this December finally sees the release of io, Peter Gabriels first album of new material since 2002s Up.During 2023, Peter has been releasing a new song from the album on the occasion of every full moon. Being revealed roughly every four weeks, each track has been allowed to find its own time and space, to enjoy its own orbit. Its a little like getting a Lego piece each month, Peter explains. Now its time to stand back and admire the final, completed creation.And what a creation 12 tracks of grace, gravity and great beauty that provide welcome confirmation of not only Peters ongoing ability to write stopyouinyourtracks songs but also of that thrilling voice, still perfectly, delightfully intact. Throughout the album the intelligent and thoughtful often thoughtprovoking songs tackle life and the universe. Our connection to the world around us Im just a part of everything Peter sings on title track io is a recurring motif, but so too the passing of time, mortality and grief, alongside such themes as injustice, surveillance and the roots of terrorism. But this is not a solemn record. While reflective, the mood is never despondent io is musically adventurous, often joyous and ultimately full of hope, topped off as it is, by the rousingly optimistic closing song, Live and Let Live.Always looking to push the boundaries, io is not simply a collection of a dozen songs. All 12 tracks are subject to two stereo mixes the BrightSide Mix, handled by Mark Spike Stent, and the DarkSide Mix, as reshaped by Tchad Blake. We have two of the greatest mixers in the world in Tchad and Spike and they definitely bring different characters to the songs. Tchad is very much a sculptor building a journey with sound and drama, Spike loves sound and assembling these pictures, so hes more of a painter. Both versions are included on the doubleCD package, and are also available separately as double vinyl albums. And thats not all. A third version the InSide Mix, in Dolby Atmos, comes courtesy of HansMartin Buff doing a wonderful job generating these much more three dimensional mixes and is included in threedisc set, including Bluray.Peter has kept his trusty inner circle of musicians close to hand, which means guitarist David Rhodes, bassist Tony Levin and drummer Manu Katch are sterling presences throughout. Several songs bear the fingerprints of longtime associate Brian Eno, whilst there are notable contributions from the likes of Richard Russell, pianist Tom Cawley, trumpeters Josh Shpak and Paolo Fresu, cellist Linnea Olsson and keyboard player Don E. Peters daughter Melanie contributes warm backing vocals, as does Roghnach Connolly of The Breath. Soweto Gospel Choir and Swedish allmale choir Oprhei Drngar lend their magnificent harmonies and the mass strings of the New Blood Orchestra, led by John Metcalfe, both soothe and soar.Peter has also invited a range of visual artists to contribute a piece of art to accompany each track. The dozen artists make an exceedingly impressive team of collaborators Ai Weiwei, Nick Cave, Olafur Eliasson, Henry Hudson, Annette Messager, Antony Micallef, David Moreno, Cornelia Parker, Megan Rooney, Tim Shaw, David Spriggs and Barthlmy Toguo. Having handpicked the artists, Peter recognises that They have the same obsessive attention to their visual work that we musicians have in sound.DarkSide Mix Gatefoldsleeve, double black 180gvinyl,32p booklet, obi strip, Peter Gabriel Vinyl is available for home delivery from Vinyl Records London, only £34 +P&P