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Peter Gabriel - Scratch My Back
Peter Gabriel is one of this lands most distinguished artists, with 40 years service at the top, the man really is a living legend and although I wouldn’t claim to be a fan of his music by any degree, I would still say that Sledgehammer and Salisbury Hill are two of the greatest pop songs ever written.
The concept behind Scratch My Back is that Big Pete covers a selection of songs, and in turn the associated artists will cover one from Mr Gabriel’s back catalogue at some point. However, your take on cover versions may be the same as mine, in that the intention is focused on individual thinking they can do so a song justice, but sadly, most of the time this is so far from the truth.
I’m pleased to tell you though there are no such ego’s on this album, just Mr Gabriel and an ochestra, giving each of the tracks a more gentle feel, expressing another dimension of emotion, and gently tip toeing through the night as felt on Elbows Mirrorball.
Like revarnishing an antique table, Heroes is stripped bare and given a whole new colour and foundation, and its not a rock and roll classic now, but more a personal message, and it’s the same with The Power of the Heart, which sounds beautiful, especially when the strings come into their own and sweep it all away.
- Peter Gabriel
- Scratch My Back (2010)
- Category: Album
- Label: EMI
- Reviewed by: Keachy
- Published on: 09 Feb 2010
- Comments: 0
- Beat Surrender Rating:
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Add to favouritesDon’t get me wrong its not all this good, with Apres Moi sounding more like a nightmare being read aloud than a song, and Street Spirit also has the same creepy feel about it, similar to the ending of Twin Peaks and that eerie score they had to finish the show each week.
But the concept of the album is the winner, with the majority of it set out beautifully, I’m sure Peter Gabriel being the nice guy he is, won’t dissapear up his own ass like Mark Ronson, cos that really would be a shame at his age!
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