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"Peter Gabriel had to wait 21 years for a successor to "Up". "i/o" ranks alongside the Archangel's best albums."
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5/5
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While some artists, like Elton John for example, boast of being able to write a song in 15 minutes, this is certainly not the case for Peter Gabriel, who took twenty-one years to polish some of the tracks on his new album, "i/o". In the twenty-one years between "Up" and "i/o", Peter Gabriel fans will not have had much to sink their teeth into: one album of covers ("Scratch My Back"), another revisiting a few songs in orchestral version ("New Blood"), a few live albums, compilations, sporadic appearances with other artists and a handful of singles - not much for such a long period of time. Suffice to say, after such a long wait, impatience is high.
What elements characterize an album? Compositions, interpretation, arrangements and production, nothing more. In terms of composition, Peter Gabriel returns to the inspiration behind albums such as "IV (Security)" and "So". Returning to the basics, he rediscovers that skilfully balanced mix of rock and world music, orchestral tracks alongside pared-down pieces, optimistic songs and melancholy themes. The spectres of 'Red Rain', 'Sledgehammer' and 'The Rythm of Heat' come to mind. The melodies are both chiselled and catchy, often carried by a rhythmic presence that gives them great dynamism.
The interpretation is beyond reproach. Peter Gabriel still knows how to play on nuances and feelings, and the distinctive, pleasant grain of his voice remains inimitable. The old guard (David Rhodes, Tony Levin and Manu Katché) need no introduction. And as usual, Peter Gabriel surrounds himself with a host of guests, multiplying the possibilities for orchestration: keyboards and acoustic and electric guitars, percussion, saxophones, trumpets, violins and cellos, mandolin, ukulele, a symphony orchestra and two choirs take charge of diversifying the moods in arrangements to which the master of the house has obviously taken the greatest care. The whole thing is topped off with a crystal-clear production that allows you to appreciate the playing of each instrument without losing a bite of the whole - a real aural treat!
Finally, as a perfectionist, Peter Gabriel also entrusts his album to the hands of several sound engineers for the mixing (see "Did you know" below). Thanks to all these elements, the result lives up to expectations: "i/o" is on a par with Peter Gabriel's best productions. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
 01. Panopticom (05:13)
02. The Court (04:20)
03. Playing for Time (06:17)
04. i/o (03:52)
05. Four Kinds of Horses (06:47)
06. Road to Joy (05:21)
07. So Much (04:50)
08. Olive Tree (05:59)
09. Love Can Heal (05:59)
10. This Is Home (05:04)
11. And Still (07:44)
12. Live and Let Live (06:46)
LINEUP:
David Rhodes: Guitares / Choeurs
Manu Katché: Batterie
Peter Gabriel: Chant / Claviers / Choeurs / Percussions / Rythmique Programmée
Tony Levin: Basse
Angie Pollock: Invité / Synthétiseurs (9)
Brian Eno: Invité / Synthétiseurs / Cloches (1) / Percussions (2) / Ukulélé (6) / Rythmique Programmée (5,6,12)
Don E: Invité / Clavier Basse (6)
Evan Smith: Invité / Saxophone (8)
Ged Lynch: Invité / Percussions (8,9)
Hans-martin Buff: Invité / Synthétiseurs (6) / Rythmique Programmée (6)
Jennie Abrahamson: Invité / Choeurs (9)
Josh Shpak: Invité / Trompette (6,8)
Katie May: Invité / Guitare (1,4,9) / Synthétiseurs (4) / Percussions (2,4,10,12) / Rythmique Programmée (5)
Linnea Olsson: Invité / Violoncelle (9) / Choeurs (9)
Melanie Gabriel: Invité / Choeurs (5,7,9,12)
Oli Jacobs: Invité / Synthétiseurs (1,3,4,10) / Guitare (10) / Percussions (10) / Piano (5) / Rythmique Programmée (4,5)
Oli Middleton: Invité / Percussions (10)
Paolo Fresu: Invité / Trompette (12)
Richard Chappell: Invité / Rythmique Programmée (8,11,12)
Richard Evans: Invité / Flûte Irlandaise (4) / Mandoline (8)
Richard Russell: Invité / Percussions (5)
Rioghnach Connolly: Invité / Choeurs (1,9,10)
Ron Aslan: Invité / Synthétiseurs (6)
Steve Gadd: Invité / Boucles De Caisse Claire (12)
The New Blood Orchestra: Invité / Orchestre Symphonique (3,5,6,7,8,10,11,12)
The Orphei Drängar Choir: Invité / Choeurs (10)
The Soweto Gospel Choir: Invité / Choeurs (4,6,12)
Tom Cawley: Invité / Piano (3)
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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Top of the page
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(3) COMMENT(S)
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Impression curieuse à l'écoute d'IO, comme si Peter GABRIEL n'avait pas pris une ride.
Déception, l'absence de contraste marqué entre les deux mixages proposés, malgré plusieurs écoutes, je trouve que çà fait gadget, encore plus sur les morceaux calmes.
L'impression de longueur à cause des morceaux plus intimistes qui peinent à me toucher.
Déception finalement c'est un peu long et manque de contrastes,
Satisfaction, il y a quelques tubes
Bon, je ne note pas, c'est incontournable pour tout fan de Peter GABRIEL mais j'ai du mal à la positionner par rapport aux précédents qui datent ... 
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Quelques longueurs, peut-être, mais si on reprend pour 21 ans, autant qu'il y ait de la matière à écouter 
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Un album qui contient son lot de pépites et qui aurait pu figurer dans le top des albums de Peter Gabriel s’il avait été amputé de ses deux derniers titres qui trainent vraiment trop en longueur. Dommage, mais ça n’empêche pas de savourer comme il se doit le retour au plus haut niveau de cet artiste exceptionnel et de sa voix inimitable qui doit bien être la seule chose sur cette terre qui ne vieillit pas.
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Top of the page
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READERS
3.9/5 (9 view(s))
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STAFF:
4.4/5 (8 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH PETER GABRIEL
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT PETER GABRIEL
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