The first leg of the tour is now complete and though Peter played many of the songs from “i/o” during the tour this month’s release, The song “So Much“, only had a few outings.
Written and produced by Peter, “So Much” is ‘a simple song’, that features a string arrangement from John Metcalfe and contributions from Tony Levin on bass, David Rhodes on guitar and backing vocals from Peter’s daughter Melanie Gabriel. The song was recorded at Real World Studios, Bath, The Beehive and British Grove, London. This month, the first version you get to hear is the Dark-Side Mix, by Tchad Blake. It’s the seventh song released, which he’s been doing once each month in 2023
‘I was trying purposefully not to be clever with this. I wanted to get a very simple chorus but one which still had some substance to the harmony and melody. Something that was easy to digest but still had a bit of character to it.
“So Much” is about mortality, getting old, all the bright, cheerful subjects, but I think when you get to my sort of age you either run away from mortality or you jump into it and try and live life to the full and that always seems to make a lot more sense to me. The countries that seem most alive are those that have death as part of their culture.’
As Peter goes on to explain, there’s a duality to the meaning of “So Much”, which is just as much about revelling in all the experiences and joyous distractions still to be had right now as it is about contemplating the future; ‘The reason I chose “So Much” as a title is because I’m addicted to new ideas and all sorts of projects. I get excited by things and want to jump around and do different things. I love being in a mess of so much! And yet it also means there’s just so much time, or whatever it is, available. Balancing them both is what the song is about.’
“So Much” is the seventh track to be taken from the album “i/o.” This is the Dark-Side Mix, by Tchad Blake.
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