Peter Gabriel has officially launched another year of lunar-synchronized releases with his latest single, “Been Undone.” This track marks the first offering from his forthcoming studio album, ‘o\i’, which serves as a thematic companion to his 2023 release, ‘i/o’. Recording for the project took place at Real World Studios in Bath and The Beehive in London, featuring Gabriel’s long-time core band of drummer Manu Katché, bassist Tony Levin, and guitarist David Rhodes. The initial release features the Dark-Side Mix by Tchad Blake, while a Bright-Side Mix from Mark ‘Spike’ Stent is set to follow on the upcoming new moon. This dual-mix approach continues Gabriel’s tradition of offering listeners multiple sonic perspectives on his contemporary compositions.
The songwriting on ‘o\i’ finds Gabriel reflecting on a global period of transition triggered by advancements in AI, quantum computing, and brain-computer interfaces. Gabriel describes these new songs as his “lumpy bits,” contrasting the “inside out” perspective of his previous album with the “outside in” approach of this new collection. He views the artist’s role as holding a mirror to these technological shifts, exploring how humanity remains interconnected with nature despite the rapid evolution of digital systems. “Been Undone” specifically navigates these themes through an atmospheric, art-rock lens, blending introspective lyrics with the experimental production for which Gabriel is renowned.
Maintaining the high visual standard of his previous work, each track on ‘o\i’ will be paired with a specific piece of art. The release of “Been Undone” is accompanied by ‘Ciclotrama 156 (Palindrome)’ by São Paulo-based artist Janaina Mello Landini. The work features intricate, branching sculptures made from unraveled ropes, which Gabriel notes resemble both tree trunks and fractal brain structures. Mello Landini, who has a background in architecture and mathematics, will eventually create an original piece specifically for this song as the album cycle progresses. This collaboration underscores Gabriel’s ongoing “brain project,” a multi-year exploration into the neurological and emotional impact of music.