Peter Gabriel
New Blood – Live In London – BluRay
Review by Larry Toering
Even though his previous release Scratch My Back was excellent, Peter Gabriel has outdone himself once again with this follow up video that also comes in 3D as well as a 2 CD special edition package. It's up there with the most amazing performances around. It features an orchestra for his musical backdrop, extracting the usual instruments so it is a completely different experience of the songs on offer than usual. Also, along with that there are two female singers in the mix to keep it on the lighter side.
Over the past few years a lot of acts have been touring and recording with orchestras, but they all have a slightly different approach about it. This is a fantastic one indeed, with the strength remaining Gabriel's voice throughout, and it's arguably as good as ever. The photography alone is visually stunning as to be expected on such a release , but such a fine stage production helps that all the more. Everything is so exquisite that it's not your average experience and one worth many repeats to take it all in. Most of the songs are of the familiar variety, and they're delivered in a different enough way to keep even the least interesting of them somehow fresh and exciting.
Only a veteran of his caliber can pull off such greatness, and the prog factor is upped all the more with the orchestra's involvement, as Gabriel and everyone involved do a good job of reinventing every song involved. I recommend it for that, but not alone because the songs included speak volumes on their own that no production values can manipulate in the first place. However, expect nothing but the best on this BluRay release, as the state of the art visuals equally match the flawless audio quality and result in a first rate product which is mostly a very mellow and pleasing set with a delicate balance of both originals and covers.
This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2012 Volume 1 at lulu.com/strangesound.
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