music matters » Peter Gabriel http://blog.waltarstudios.com musings of a seattle music geek Sat, 19 Feb 2011 23:36:42 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Song of the week – My Body is a Cage http://blog.waltarstudios.com/2010/03/05/song-of-the-week-my-body-is-a-cage/ http://blog.waltarstudios.com/2010/03/05/song-of-the-week-my-body-is-a-cage/#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:30:04 +0000 bwaltar http://blog.waltarstudios.com/?p=334

Song
My Body is a Cage by Peter Gabriel

Back story
Peter Gabriel has a fascinating new album, Scratch My Back.  It is the beginning of a song exchange with other artists.  Peter covers 12 songs on this record, and some of the artists have already recorded his songs, too (available on iTunes).  In addition to this concept, what makes Scratch My Back so interesting is that it is arranged for vocal and orchestra.  No drum set, no guitars, electronics, etc.  The recording is top notch, and the orchestral arrangements by John Metcalfe are stunning.  It’s both refreshing and challenging to hear well-known pop music reinterpreted this way.  There are many Peter Gabriel fans that have already dismissed this effort as “selling out,” but I disagree.  Sometimes good music takes time to appreciate, and that is certainly the case with this effort.  I do not love all the songs just yet, but several of them are amazing.  It’s a remarkable achievement for an artist who has relied heavily on percussion and effects in most of his previous music.

Why this song
My Body is a Cage is a cover of the 2007 Arcade Fire original.  It features a striking dynamic range rarely heard in popular music these days, and his vocals are stronger than I’ve heard in years.  Compared to the original, it offers a more somber, vulnerable presentation of both the lyrics and musical themes.  In an Amazon.com interview, Peter talks about the central character in the movie The Diving Bell and the Butterfly as inspiration for this version.  Chilling.

More info
All Music
Peter’s website

Check it out

Buy it
Amazon Peter Gabriel - Scratch My Back (Special Edition)

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]]> http://blog.waltarstudios.com/2010/03/05/song-of-the-week-my-body-is-a-cage/feed/ 0 Song of the week – Big Blue Ball http://blog.waltarstudios.com/2009/11/29/song-of-the-week-big-blue-ball/ http://blog.waltarstudios.com/2009/11/29/song-of-the-week-big-blue-ball/#comments Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:01:56 +0000 bwaltar http://blog.waltarstudios.com/?p=162 bigblueball

Song
Big Blue Ball by Big Blue Ball

Back story
Big Blue Ball is not a group per se, but rather a set of recordings resulting from workshops hosted by Peter Gabriel at Real World Studios. In the early 90s, these retreats yielded many unusual pairings, and eleven of these songs were produced and saw the light of day in 2008. Musicians and artists from all over the world participated, and Peter claims it was among the most rewarding events of his career.

Why this song
The title song features Karl Wallinger on lead vocals and Manu Katche on drums. The drumbeat and keyboards wouldn’t be out of place on a Peter Gabriel solo record. But this song offers a lightness and positivity sometimes missing from his solo work. For anyone interested in exploring global music, yet also wants a somewhat familiar sound, this release provides an easy introduction.

Reviews
All Music

Check it out

Big Blue Ball - Big Blue Ball - Big Blue Ball (feat. Peter Gabriel, Manu Katche & Karl Wallinger)

Big Blue Ball (on eMusic)

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