Peter Gabriel has announced December 1 as the release date for i/o, his 12-track album that has seen its individual songs released on every full moon in the last year.
Gabriel embarked on an ambitious concept: to release individual tracks on each full moon, starting in January with "Panopticom." In addition, all 12 tracks are subject to two stereo mixes: the Bright-Side Mix, handled by Mark 'Spike' Stent, and the Dark-Side Mix, as reshaped by Tchad Blake. Conceptual videos were created as Bright-Side and Dark-Side. Gabriel then instigated the Peter Gabriel /Stability AI #DiffuseTogether competition in April. The joint first-place winners videos were submitted by Junie Lau and Lamson, who chose to create videos for the songs "The Court" and "Panopticom."
Peter Gabriel - The Court (Dark-Side Mix) (Junie Lau Official Video)
Peter Gabriel - Panopticom (Dark-Side Mix) (Lamson Official Version)
Gabriel, ever the one to push visual and aural boundaries, has chosen to work with many of the musicians who have served him well over the past four decades: guitarist David Rhodes, bassist Tony Levin and drummer Manu Katché are sterling presences throughout. Several productions are unmistakably touched by the hand of Brian Eno. And by keeping it in the family, Gabriel's Daughter Melanie contributes sublime backing vocals.
There will be five physical versions of i/o:
The Bright Side and Dark Side mixes are available together as a 2CD set or as individual 2LP vinyl packages. The gatefold vinyl editions come with an obi-strip, 32-page booklet and hi-res download card.
A 2CD+blu-ray edition features both stereo mixes on CD and a Blu-ray with a Dolby Atmos Mix – known as the In-Side Mix which was created by Hans-Martin Buff. The Blu-ray is packaged as a digipak with a 32-page booklet and comes with an OBI-strip. It also includes both stereo mixes in 24/96 hi-res.
A deluxe box set which will not be released until March of 2024, simply gathers all these formats together: it includes 2CDs, four vinyl LPs and the Blu-ray. This foil-blocked, clamshell box includes a casebound book with expanded sleeve notes and a poster.
Gabriel has already begun his i/o - The Tour in North America. Other dates are to be announced and there is a heavy possibility for Gabriel taking the tour to Europe next year.
