Though one of Gabriel's most accessible rock songs, "And Through the Wire" remains an obscure deep cut nearly four decades after its release. Both takes, built on Tony Levin's barking bass and glacial "Frippertronics," are defined by the polar opposite vocal performances: Terry Roche's slasher-film screams (on the Fripp cut) and Gabriel's deep, pitch-shifted moans (on his solo cut). Adding to the confusion, Exposure also featured a minimalist reinterpretation of Gabriel's piano ballad "Here Comes the Flood." Eerie art-funk soundscape "Exposure" is an equal collaboration between the prog-rock gods, with distinct versions appearing on both Gabriel's 1978 self-titled album (a.k.a. "Don't need no stethoscope."Īfter dismantling King Crimson in 1974, guitarist and prog architect Robert Fripp launched a bizarre production career, helming LPs for folk trio the Roches, Philly soul journeyman Darryl Hall and experimental kindred spirit Peter Gabriel. He croons in an off-kilter phrasing over Wurlitzer chords, slithering around the downbeat he shouts over tango rhythms and romantic accordion. Peter Gabriel 1 or Car – "Humdrum" is a giddy hodgepodge, with the newly solo Gabriel throwing sonic spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. "From the white star/Came the bright scar/Our amoeba/My little liebe schoen." Like the rest of the self-titled album – a.k.a. "As I drove into the sun/Didn't dare look where I had begun," he sings over enormous washes of synth. With "Humdrum," he put another foot forward, seemingly celebrating the birth of his first daughter. Gabriel's debut solo LP is best remembered for its triumphant lead single "Solsbury Hill," a folky kiss-off to his Genesis days. From obscure soundtrack tunes (“Party Man”) to anthemic B sides (“Don’t Break This Rhythm”), these are 20 great Peter Gabriel songs only hardcore fans know. Gabriel recently launched the Rock Paper Scissors tour – a collaborative, co-headlining jaunt with Sting – and released a dynamic Muhammad Ali-inspired single, “I’m Amazing.” It’s an ideal time to explore the lesser-known corners of his sprawling discography. It’s been 14 years since Gabriel’s last batch of new material, Up, but he’s remained active since – releasing two orchestral albums (2010’s covers-only Scratch My Back and the following year’s New Blood, full of revamped originals) and touring the world multiple times, most recently with the classic So lineup on his Back to Front trek. Art-rock innovator, soul-pop craftsman, “world music” ambassador: Peter Gabriel has evolved substantially with each LP, often abandoning a comfortable style to stake out new creative ground. And whether he’s wielding his soulful “Sledgehammer” or channeling an evil “Intruder,” his music always aims for the grandiose – even his leftovers are crafted with imagination and verve.
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