On the first full moon of 2023, Peter releases the first new song from his forthcoming album “i/o”. Written and produced by Peter, “Panopticom” was recorded at Real World Studios in Wiltshire and The Beehive in London.
Peter Gabriel plans to release a new song from his upcoming album, “i/o”, every full moon. The singer released the first song from the album at midnight Friday. Titled “Panopticom,” the track features electronics from Brian Eno. “i/o” will mark Gabriel’s first album in more than a decade.
“Some of what I’m writing about this time is the idea that we seem incredibly capable of destroying the planet that gave us birth and that unless we find ways to reconnect ourselves to nature and to the natural world we are going to lose a lot,” Gabriel said in a statement on his website. “A simple way of thinking about where we fit into all of this is looking up at the sky … and the moon has always drawn me to it.”
The first track released “Panopticom” references an idea that Peter has been working on to initiate the creation of an infinitely expandable accessible data globe. The aim is to “allow the world to see itself better and understand more of what’s really going on”.
‘The first song is based on an idea I have been working on to initiate the creation of an infinitely expandable accessible data globe: “The Panopticom“. We are beginning to connect a like-minded group of people who might be able to bring this to life, to allow the world to see itself better and understand more of what’s really going on.’ -pg
Musically “Panopticom” drives along powered by the engine-room of long-time collaborators Tony Levin, David Rhodes and Manu Katché, underpinned by haunting electronics from Brian Eno. Additional backing vocals from Ríoghnach Connolly of The Breath. The lyric is, in part, inspired by the extraordinary work of three groups, Forensic Architecture, Bellingcat and the Gabriel co-founded pioneering human rights organisation WITNESS.
Drums: Manu Katché
Rhythm Programming: Peter Gabriel, Oli Jacobs, Richard Chappell
Bass: Tony Levin
Electric Guitar: David Rhodes
Acoustic Guitar: Katie May
Synths: Peter Gabriel
Additional Synths: Oli Jacobs
Bells and Haunting Synths: Brian Eno
Backing Vocals: Peter Gabriel, David Rhodes, Ríoghnach Connolly
Lead Vocals: Peter Gabriel
released January 6, 2023
Words and Music Peter Gabriel
Gabriel released two singles in 2016, “I’m Amazing” and “The Veil”, but his most recent album, “New Blood”, arrived in 2011, and included orchestral re-recordings of his older songs. In 2010, he released an LP of cover songs called “Scratch My Back”. His most recent album of original songs, “Up“, was released in 2002.
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