Artist: PETER GABRIEL
Album: NEW BLOOD (CD)

Release date: 2013
EAN/UPS: 5099967855223
Media type: CD

New Blood is a continuum of Peter’s previous Scratch My Back album - the song-swap project where he covered the songs of others, all to an orchestral backing. Thanks to the precise arrangements by John Metcalf and Peter, the treatment was so successful that Peter very quickly knew where he wanted to take it next, and work began to apply the same principals to his own songs. Great care has been taken, and much discussion shared, in deciding what songs were included on New Blood. It wasn’t simply a case of giving the big numbers an orchestral re-rub. Indeed, some of the big hits are missing in favour of lesser-known material. But the intention wasn’t a deliberate obliqueness; it was more a case of finding the songs that would be enhanced by the massed strings, brass, woodwind and percussion. “The orchestra provides different dimensions to the music that weren’t there initially,” confirms Peter. “Rock artists work slowly in studios, building up layer by layer, and one of the great, powerful advantages of an orchestra is all these musicians playing at one moment with all sorts of colours and personalities.” And in front of orchestra, taking centre stage when necessary, retreating into the shadows when not, is Peter’s rich voice. Retaining its trademark emotive power, it returns to lyrics written 20 or 30 years ago, reinvesting them with new meaning and heightened poignancy.

CD:
        1. The Rhythm of the Heat
        2. Downside Up
        3. San Jacinto
        4. Intruder
        5. Wallflower
        6. In Your Eyes
        7. Mercy Street
        8. Red Rain
        9. Darkness
        10. Don't Give Up
        11. Digging In the Dirt
        12. The Nest That Sailed the Sky
        13. A Quiet Moment
        14. Solsbury Hill