PETER GABRIEL - Panopticom (Bright Side Mix) - track discussion

I like it! A catchy tune. Can't wait to hear more.

That intro... reminded me of This Is The Picture (!). Tony's bass sound is great and I think it rewards repeated listens in terms of the general feel/textures and lyrics. An intriguing taster for the album!

This is an odd one. I like it, it has a nice feel, it's interesting to hear quite prominent acoustic guitar sound as it's not normally associated with his work, and there is of course simply the buzz of a brand new PG track that isn't just a standalone track but prelude to a whole new album. But at the same time I feel there's some kind of gap or something lacking that I can't articulate.

Maybe it's going to take time for my excitement level to ramp up, with the rest of the album still to hear and of course the gigs.

A nice tune but it’s too much compressed for the sound. That’s awful… I didn’t understand his choices. I hope a different mix For the album.

I like it

A little blurb about the song from PG on Bandcamp

Quote

‘The first song is based on an idea I have been working on to initiate the creation of an infinitely expandable accessible data globe: The Panopticom. We are beginning to connect a like-minded group of people who might be able to bring this to life, to allow the world to see itself better and understand more of what’s really going on.’ -pg



Musically Panopticom drives along powered by the engine-room of long-time collaborators Tony Levin, David Rhodes and Manu Katché, underpinned by haunting electronics from Brian Eno. Additional backing vocals from Ríoghnach Connolly of The Breath. The lyric is, in part, inspired by the extraordinary work of three groups, Forensic Architecture, Bellingcat and the Gabriel co-founded pioneering human rights organisation WITNESS.

It's no Out Out, is it?

I LOVE it!

What worries me is that I've been waiting for a new 'proper' studio album from the great man that i'd end up loving it because it is something new. Having downloaded it and listened to it on and off over the day, I like it but is it perhaps isn't as strong as some of his other offering in the past. Still can't wait for the album.

It's okay but nothing groundbreaking or worth that length of time between albums imo.

Feels very early 80s, will be interesting to hear the whole album.

The fact that we heard the preview a month ago took away the surprise effect.

The only thing I don't like is that an upbeat song should always have a fast tempo and not slow and fast.

I like it a lot, and suspect it will become a favourite in time. That studio footage looked great - just give us a video already!

If he decides to release a new song every full moon, the album is not ready to be released...

Quote from Ben

If he decides to release a new song every full moon, the album is not ready to be released...

That was my initial thought, but I suppose there may be some long tracks, which would reduce the number of months needed to release the album. However, they would have to be very long if he's going to release the whole thing before the tour starts, which would make it a six track album!

It’s a strange communication plan…

The more I listen to the track, the more I like it. It's not the definite masterpiece but a really strong album teaser. Still wondering why this mix is called "Bright Side Mix" and not "Single Mix".

Quote from Thelawnmower

That was my initial thought, but I suppose there may be some long tracks, which would reduce the number of months needed to release the album. However, they would have to be very long if he's going to release the whole thing before the tour starts, which would make it a six track album!

he said he's sitting on a lot of new music, so I don't think it's a 7 or 8 track album .

He works on 14 new songs…

The new album will be out for Christmas 2023… 😬

I suppose it all works if he is not intending to release the album until after the tour.

I like the whole full moon thing and the slow release of tracks. As long as he releases the ones he intends to play on tour on the next six months it would work out fine. Plus he can then road test them, tweak the mixes and then finish the album after the tour. However, he does talk about going to great lengths to get the track order right. I had assumed he meant he was realising them in album order but perhaps this is part of the process of sorting the order out. He does move in mysterious ways and at glacial speed so time will eventually tell.