Peter Gabriel is not a man in a hurry. Twenty-one years have passed since his last album of original songs, Up. But the former Genesis frontman has always preferred depth to productivity, and this can be heard on his new album, I/O, released a few days ago.
We say “new”, although in reality, the 12 tracks of I/O were all released individually during the last year, with a new song every full moon. The fans had therefore already tasted it. But it’s another experience to hear this material put together, in an organized whole.
Surveillance culture (Panopticom), social justice (The Court), interconnection of man and nature (Olive Tree): the major themes of our time are elegantly evoked. More personal, So Much and And Still question old age and our purpose. Despite a certain seriousness, the album carries a form of optimism and contains some funkier pieces reminiscent of Gabriel from the 1980s (Road to Joy).
On the critical side, we can regret some slightly dull titles (Love can Heal, Live and Let Live) and some slightly dated sounds, which take us directly back to the early 1990s, a palette which can perhaps be explained by the presence of the eternal old accomplices, Tony Levin on bass, Manu Katché on drums and David Rhodes on guitar.
On the other side, we must admit that Gabriel’s voice is still as clear, unique and moving. That this album has the merit of taking its time. That it is relevant, deep, nourishing and of consistent quality. To be included among the good vintages of Gabriel, an artist who has managed to age well, like his colleagues David Byrne and Brian Eno (the latter also plays on the album).
Note that I/O is offered in three formats. A “bright” mix made by Mark Stent (Beyonce, Ed Sheeran, Lady Gaga, and Madonna), a “dark” mix made by Chad Blake (T Bone Burnett, Los Lobos, Sheryl Crow, Black Keys) and even a Dolby mix Atmos for the sound freaks of the future.
