Peter Gabriel's New Blood POSTED BY VINNIE BLESI, October 19, 2011 Share
Rock pioneer Peter Gabriel's new music release, "New Blood", is the most intense emotional music I have heard all year. Forget drums, bass and guitar, Gabriel worked with arranger John Metcalfe to produce a reworking of his old songs that are soulful and powerful with stripped down arrangements of an orchestra, Gabriel on piano, and female vocals.
This beautiful CD begins with "Rhythm of the Heat" from "Security". The original track was mostly all samples, but Gabriel perfectly meshes the arrangement to retain the original track's integrity.
"Downside Up" from 2000 release "Ovo" features Melanie Gabriel on vocals and the track is haunting.
Gabriel revisits his "Security" cd with "San Jacinto", with a minimal arrangement, Gabriel provides such emotional depth with his vocals, it almost overshadows the musical track.
Peter Gabriel's creepy rendition of "Intruder" is probably giving Roger Waters nightmares. As the arrangement could be from "The Wall" but it is better.
The next track, "Wallflower", shows off Peter Gabriel's excellence as a songwriter. With minimal accompanist the vocal fills the heart.
The next three tracks are from his most popular release, "So". "In Your Eyes" is not bad but seems to lack some the emotion that was displayed in the earlier tracks of the CD. "Mercy Street" comes off too minimal and clinical. The third track from "So" adds nothing to the original track and is a disappointment.
After a rather mundane version of "Darkness", this CD gets back on track with a powerful version of "Don't Give Up", with Ane Brun doing the vocal originally done by Kate Bush.
Reinventing "Digging in the Dirt" has to be the biggest challenge to this project. But Gabriel pulls it off with amazing results. If someone had told me this track could be arranged for an orchestra and retain its edge I would of been doubtful, but I am proven wrong as this track retains its edginess.
Then there are two throw away tracks, and the bonus track Solsbury Hill, which does not deviate very much from the original.
While most of the tracks on this CD I find inspiring and passionate, there are some tracks that just don't do justice to the vibe of the CD. Plus where are, "Games Without Frontiers" and "Shock the Monkey" ?
"Death By Culture" is ©2011 by Vinnie Blesi. All contents of Nolan's Pop Culture Review are ©2011 by Nolan B. Canova. Share This Article on Facebook! Subscribe to Crazed Fanboy Message Board | Email
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