Peter Gabriel has released “Panopticom,” the lead track from i/o, his first album of original material since 2002. The song features contributions from familiar names such as bassist Tony Levin, drummer Manu Katché, and guitarist David Rhodes, as well as “electronics” from Brian Eno and backing vocals from the Breath’s Ríoghnach Connolly. No release date for i/o has been confirmed, but Gabriel says “the lunar phases will guide the release plan in 2023, with a new song revealed each full moon.” Each will be accompanied by its own artwork, with Panopticom featuring a cover image by David Spriggs.

In a press release, Gabriel said about “Panopticom”: The first song is based on an idea I have been working on to initiate the creation of an infinitely expandable accessible data globe: the Panopticom. We are beginning to connect a like-minded group of people who might be able to bring this to life, to allow the world to see itself better and understand more of what’s really going on.  Gabriel said the song’s name mirrors that of an idea he’s been working on “to initiate the creation of an infinitely expandable accessible data globe. We are beginning to connect a like-minded group of people who might be able to bring this to life — to allow the world to see itself better and understand more of what’s really going on.”

Gabriel will begin his first European tour in nine years on May 18 in Krakow, with North American stops to be announced for late summer and fall.

Take a listen to ‘Panopticom (Bright Side Mix)’ – here.

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