New Blood by Peter Gabriel

*New Blood* is the final piece of a conceptual trilogy that started with 2010’s *Scratch My Back*. On that orchestral project, Gabriel interpreted other songwriters’ works, implementing a “no drumkits, no guitars” aesthetic. Six artists he covered returned the favor; in a series of singles, each recorded a song from the Gabriel songbook. For 2011’s *New Blood*, Gabriel revisited his own history with the *Scratch My Back* approach. Stretching back to 1977 (“Solsbury Hill”) up through 2002 (“Darkness”), this album let Gabriel address his career through an early sixtysomething’s perspective and voice (singing and artistic). Subtle brass, woodwinds, strings, and a choir replace the pounding drums and tense guitars of “Intruder.” The piano at the heart of “Intruder” remains, but it’s set to a lush sea of strings instead of synthesizers, bass guitar, and tom-toms. Two Gabriel hits receive very different treatment, with “In Your Eyes” reimagined as a powerful overture and “Don\'t Give Up” (with Norwegian vocalist Ane Brun in the Kate Bush role) reborn as a chamber-pop triumph.

Following the artistic success of Scratch My Back, 2011’s New Blood delved deep into the Gabriel songbook to strip past glories down to their bare essentials, Peter’s voice again shorn of the rock musician’s usual accompaniment. Instead, a 46-piece orchestra replaces the guitars and amps, John Metcalfe again commissioned to create orchestral arrangements for both timeless classics and less obvious choices.

9.0 / 10

"I think music has a natural tendency—or any sort of creative thing—to evolve, and although I guess in the digital world, you can just press play and things will sound exactly the same, I don't think that's very interesting to people. I think it's more interesting when it does change and can go wrong." - Peter Gabriel, from our Paste interview.

Discover New Blood by Peter Gabriel released in 2011. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic.

6 / 10

This reimagining of Peter Gabriel has an avant garde boldness that is at times amazing.

Career highlights retooled for 46-piece orchestra - with patchy results. CD review by Graeme Thomson