Title: Scratch my back
Artist: Peter Gabriel
Genre: Rock / Pop
Release Date: 12th February 2010
Label: EMI
Album Review
Finally, for God’s sake he’s back - the Master himself! ‘Scratch My Back’ is the eighth studio and fourteenth album overall by the English musician Peter Gabriel, his first in eight years. The album, recorded at Air Lyndhurst and Real World Studios during 2009, consists of cover versions of twelve songs by various artists, using only orchestra and voice. “If you’re going to reinterpret something, then really do something. Nail your colours to the mast and say, ‘This is different, and it isn’t everybody’s cup of tea.’” [Peter Gabriel, on ‘Scratch My Back’]
The idea behind the ‘Scratch My Back’ project is a song exchange where each artist would cover one of Gabriel's songs in return for his covering one of theirs; the other artists' renditions of Gabriel's songs will appear on a later album entitled ‘I’ll Scratch Yours’. It is the first part of a series of song exchanges in which Gabriel and other leading artists reinterpret each other’s songs. To help craft his recording of the album’s eclectic array of cult favourites and classic tracks, Gabriel enlisted former Durutti Column member John Metcalfe, composer, arranger and the expertise of producer Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd’s ‘The Wall’, Lou Reed’s ‘Berlin’) and engineer, mixer and producer Tchad Blake (Suzanne Vega, Sheryl Crow, Tom Waits).
Gabriel describes this as a very personal record with twelve songs performed only with orchestral instruments and voice. He made the choice not to include guitar or drums. The album’s richly diverse sounds include the sparse romance of Lou Reed’s ‘The Power of the Heart’, the powerful musical journey of David Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ and an epic arrangement of Arcade Fire’s ‘My Body Is A Cage’. Gabriel has never been one to conform to musical trends, or even follow them for that matter. So with that thought in mind, eight years after the release of his last album, ‘Up’, he pulls out a bunch of songs by other artists and arranges them for an orchestra to play. Armed with his singular and outstanding voice, he proceeds to bring a symphonic exploration of music by well-known artists as well as unfortunately unbeknown ones. One might have thought: “Phhh, just another cover album with orchestra, the world does not need!”
Well, ‘Scratch my Back’ is not any ordinary cover album, it is Peter Gabriel's interpretation of songs by other artists, and that, in my opinion, makes all the difference. It’s the successful adaption and further development of the origin compositions, borne by the beauty oft he classical arrangements and moreover Gabriel’s intensive, unique and outstanding voice, turning this release into a masterpiece of a genius. The original songs are awesome, but within Peter Gabriel’s hands they’re just like diamonds and pearls due to the courage of an incredible musician not to shrink from rearranging of the material. Most of all, it’s a bow and an accolade of an artist and pioneer, which is following his own paths in the beautiful world of music.
Track List
CD 1
01. Heroes (David Bowie)
02. The Boy In The Bubble (Paul Simon)
03. Mirrorball (Elbow)
04. Flume (Bon Iver)
05. Listening Wind (Talking Heads)
06. The Power Of The Heart (Lou Reed)
07. My Body Is A Cage (Arcade Fire)
08. The Book Of Love (The Magnetic Fields)
09. I Think It´s Going To Rain Today (Randy Newman)
10. Après Moi (Regina Spektor)
11. Philadelphia (Neil Young)
12. Street Spirit (Radiohead)
CD 2
13. The Book Of Love (Remix)
14. My Body Is A Cage (Oxford London Temple Version)
15. Waterloo Sunset (Oxford London Temple Version)
16. Heroes (Wildebeest Mix)
Line-Up
Peter Gabriel - Vocals, Piano
Melanie Gabriel - Backing Vocals
Jason Rebello - Piano
John Metcalfe - Arranger
London Scratch Orchestra
Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Website
http://www.petergabriel.com/ / http://www.myspace.com/PeterGabriel
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 10
Sound: 10
Extras: -
Total: 10 / 10
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