‘Shad’ and ‘Spike’ have just made it to Vernon Kay’s programme on R2, with talk about a bright side and a dark side. Vernon is playing Panopticon now. No Idea which side.
Edit: Panopticom. I misheard it. That’s the thing about Jeremy Bentham’s ideas. They never leave you!
I’ll admit to being an admirer of PG - but I have been listening to i/o for the last couple of days and consider it to be a real triumph. Does not have an instant classic like Sledeghammer (just one example from the past catalogue) but there is plenty of really great music across the whole album and it is very much ‘Peter Gabriel’. Compelling listen for me - i.e once I hit play I don’t want it to stop. The production is about as good as it gets and I really appreciate the two (three with Atmos) mixes. I like all equally.
Listened to the Light Side in the car at the weekend, then Dark Side is playing at home now.
Considering how dull many other artists’ later work can be, this is pretty good. Most tracks are no worse than some of his earlier work (accepting that So will forever be his best-known work for good reason) and I would say there are at least a few perfectly solid songs on here.
Can’t spot any gigantic differences between the two mixes so also struggle to see why it was necessary to release box as one package. Otherwise, though, I’m pleasantly surprised.
I was going to skip this record but got pulled into comparing the different mixes, felt I wasted a few days comparing track by track but I found it fascinating hearing the differences and started to really enjoy the album.
In the end I will play the Qubuz Darkside download and listen to the Brightside mix on Vinyl. Only reason being was that it was only £29 on What Records at the moment.
I’m missing that perhaps- my feel for this is typical experiential stuff.
It reassures that we all might operate this way (internally), that we are not alone in this life journey.
There are some ‘cute’ throwaway references to a lot of ‘life dramas’ that have become popular in the social world (since his last album no doubt), and he doesn’t quite finger them directly, but seems to sort of sort of psuedo acknowledge them in a very inclusive sort of way.
This album looks like a panacea, a ‘healing and engaging form of shared counselling experience’; typical Gabriel then…
Peter Gabriel is one of my favorites. His first four albums are, in my opinion, classics. I lost interest when So was released but I have had i/o since it came out and it is a fantastic album
To me the SQ is fine in representing what was recorded but I do get the “processed” perspective. In that sense it is somewhat similar in production to his II, III and IV albums where he was experimenting with sampling and using traditional instruments in creative ways. That’s probably why I like i/o because it has that creative and innovative approach which, in my opinion, faded a bit on So and subsequent albums.
As far as the theme of the album is concerned I am reminded of going to see the play Hamlet at the theater when I was 15 and then seeing it again when I was 45. I didn’t really understand the play when I was young but with an additional three decades of experiencing life I understood it much better. I think that i/o is a reflection on life from the perspective of an older person who is more aware of their own mortality and life experience.
On my 3rd full listen on my main system, having played it in my study and bedroom systems a couple times too. It’s a very professional and sophisticated production that took some time to warm to; especially as there are no great anthems, imho. However, it is pure PG that got my feet tapping eventually.
@philiprst gave a ‘like’ for the first part of your post.
gave a response due to the second…
You think at 45 we will have learned whether Gabriel went ‘off planet’ or chose to stay behind…
arguably the dual mixes could be a “In” and “Out” affair…
I agree, if you look at the 24/192 (Aja) flac files in a frequency analyzer, the Qobuz 24/192 stream appears to be a 16/44 CD quality or at best a 24/48 copy up-sampled to 24/192. A whole lot of emptiness in a large file.
I was so fortunate to see Peter Gabriel’s show in Denver this past October and I’m so glad I did. It provided such a great perspective on the new music. I love this new album(s). I plan to wait for the Deluxe package in March so am holding out for that for vinyl. Can’t wait though. It was an amazing show. Grabbed the setlist as well from the generous soundboard fellas!
I am a big fan of PG … but really this release does nothing for me really…there are some super old bass lines and riffs dotted around…love his voice…sorry this album is not memorable for me…I think the cover picture sums it up…I am not sure he should have released it…I have now listened to it 3 times…and I think thats it for me. Sorry guys.
Received the Brightside Vinyl edition today, lovely packaging along with a detailed booklet with a modern art picture for each track that ties in with the music. Perfect pressing and sounds a little less congested to the Qubuz download, so recommended. You really appreciate the amount of love that has gone into this album and sounds fantastic.