First listen of Peter Gabriel's new album, i/o at WOMAD 2023

In a darkening forest clearing, ever increasing numbers of people sit, lean, lie and generally hide from the inevitable summer downpour whilst a giant floating replica of the moon hovers over them. 

We’re at WOMAD about to listen to the world exclusive play through of Peter Gabriel’s new album. If released this year, ‘i/o’ will be Peter’s first studio album of new material in 21 years (anyone familiar with his work will know this is by no means a guarantee!). The general theme of the evening is one of connections. Nature, man, relationships, artificial intelligence and mortality all get a substantial look in and the setting only enhances these. 

If you’ve been lucky enough to see Peter on his UK and European tour already this year you’ll have heard a lot of these songs live already but that doesn’t diminish the excitement of hearing them ‘live’ from Real World studios. Opener ‘Panopticom’ was the first song released on the full moon of January 2023 and deals with the power of information. ‘We’ve got WITNESS on the ground, taking in the evidence…’ I particularly enjoy the cheery and light acoustic guitar in the chorus which offsets against the very dark and brooding verses. 

‘Playing for Time’, ‘And Still’ and ‘So Much’ (one of Peter’s best ever) all feel very personal and are beautiful reflections of lives lived and times valued. 

The title track and ‘Road to Joy’ have that certain something that ‘Secret World’ had previously where by they take on a whole other level live. 

The whole experience flies by in just over an hour and judging by the number of people lying on the wet forest floor seemingly oblivious to the falling rain, this album has done what it set out to do – connect and ground us. 

Having listened to Peter’s music since my parent’s bounced me on their knees to ‘Solisbury Hill’, I really hope ‘i/o’ gets the release and success it deserves. I count myself very lucky to have been at WOMAD today and thank PG for more great music. (and please not another 21 years!)

Written by: Louise Edis

Track listing:

1. Panopticom
2. Playing For Time
3. The Court
4. Four Kinds Of Horses
5. I/O
6. Love Can Heal
7. Road To Joy
8. So Much
9. Olive Tree
10. Home
11. And Still
12. Live And Let Live

 

Peter Gabriel at WOMAD

For as long as I can remember I've had a wish to photograph a big name concert and also to photograph Peter Gabriel in concert. On the 25th July 2009 at the Charlton Park WOMAD festival both of those ambitions merged into one and became a reality. Normally getting a decent camera into a concert and using it is all but impossible without a media pass. I'd tried in vain to get myself media accreditation in the days prior to the concert but in the end I was happy to have been turned down. The press were only allowed to shoot the first 3 songs and then they were gone.

With the help from Alan and Ian, two friends I have met at other Peter Gabriel concerts over the years, and a trick of bringing back two glasses of beer for them enabled me to get within 3 rows of the stage without actually having to wait there for 5 hours.

Peter and his band came on stage around 21:30 and played for around 90 minutes. The set list went something like this;

Boy In The Bubble
The Book Of Love
Darkness
Come Talk To Me
Steam
Downside Up
Games Without Frontiers
No Self-Control
Big Time
Washing Of The Water
The Tower That Ate People
San Jacinto
Red Rain
Solsbury Hill
Biko

A couple of links of interest. Firstly to WOMAD, and secondly to an organisation that Peter strongly supports Witness.org.

I'm really happy with the results but you be the judge - take a look for yourself.