OVO

Though *OVO* falls under Peter Gabriel’s soundtrack work, it still assimilates easily into his proper solo album catalog. Songs such as “Father, Son,” “The Tower That Ate People,” “White Ashes,\" and “Downside Up” all appeared in concert performances. *OVO* was conceived as an audio/visual project for London’s Millennium Dome. The list of contributors and collaborators is smart and astonishingly wide, from Cocteau Twins’ Elizabeth Fraser and longtime Gabriel cohorts Tony Levin, David Rhodes, and Manu Katche to Neneh Cherry, The Blue Nile’s Paul Buchanan, Richie Havens, and Alison Goldfrapp. They\'re all thrown together with Gabriel’s meticulous, eclectic production hand for a song cycle that transcends worldbeat, goth, New Age, pop, and Irish jigs. Hardcore fans may have wished for a proper follow-up to *So* (it had been four years, and this was Gabriel’s second extracurricular activity, counting *Passion*). Yet when the sounds are this adventurous (Gabriel never phones things in), it’s time to admit that Gabriel isn’t your traditional singer/songwriter (duh?) and one who’s meant to explore nontraditional avenues as fervently as his day job.

'OVO' is the Gabriel-authored soundtrack to the Millennium Dome Show, the 160-artist extravaganza that underwent 999 performances during the 365 days in 2000 that the Dome was open. Helping to tell the story of three generations of the same family living through three distinct eras – the past, the present, the future – Peter’s soundtrack accordingly drew from deep, long-held tradition and from contemporary grooves. Hurdy-gurdys butted up alongside drum & bass, ancient dancing the same millennium-celebrating dance as modern. Released halfway through 2000, 'OVO' boasts a stellar cast, including Cocteau Twin Elizabeth Fraser, Neneh Cherry, Alison Goldfrapp, and Paul Buchanan from The Blue Nile. Some of the tracks from OVO have become fixtures of the Gabriel canon, among them 'Downside Up' and 'The Nest That Sailed Away', both of which would be reprised ten years later on the orchestral album 'New Blood'.

Geffen A&R; executive Tony Berg was quoted a few years back as suggesting that\n\ Peter Gabriel should call ...

In 1997, Peter Gabriel was asked to pilot a visual project for London's Millennium Dome.