Panopticom

Last updated

"Panopticom"
Panopticom Bright Side.webp
Single by Peter Gabriel
from the album I/O
Released
  • 6 January 2023 (bright-side mix)
  • 21 January 2023 (dark-side and in-side mixes)
Studio
Genre
Length5:13
Label
Songwriter(s) Peter Gabriel
Producer(s) Peter Gabriel
Peter Gabriel singles chronology
"Here It Is"
(2022)
"Panopticom"
(2023)
"The Court"
(2023)

"Panopticom" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, released in January 2023 as the first single in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O , his first album of original material since 2002's Up . Two versions of the song have been released: the "Bright Side Mix" (mixed by Mark "Spike" Stent) on 6 January 2023, and the "Dark Side Mix" (mixed by Tchad Blake) on 21 January. The cover (for both versions) features David Spriggs' Red Gravity as the cover art. [3] The single was released on the first full moon of the year.

Contents

Additional tracks from the album were also released on full moons and received both "bright side" and "dark side" mixes by Stent and Blake, respectively. [4]

Background

On the origin of the song, Gabriel said,

"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." [5]

Additionally, Gabriel cited research group Forensic Architecture, investigative journalism group Bellingcat, and the non-profit human rights organization WITNESS (co-founded by Gabriel) as inspirations. [3]

The song was recorded at Gabriel's Real World Studios in Wiltshire and the Beehive in London, and features frequent collaborators Tony Levin on bass, David Rhodes on guitar, Manu Katché on drums, and Brian Eno on synths and bells. Ríoghnach Connolly of The Breath also contributed backing vocals. [6]

Artwork

The cover artwork features Red Gravity by David Spriggs, who created the piece in 2021 with acrylic paint on layered plexiglass with dimensions of 84 × 61 × 20 cm. Gabriel commented that the artwork reflected "Panopticom's" lyrical themes of surveillance, which prompted him to reach out to Spriggs for permission to use Red Gravity for the cover art. The artwork was also used as a backdrop for performances of "Panopticom" during Gabriel's i/o tour. [3] [7]

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for "Panopticom"
Chart (2023)Peak
position
Canadian Digital Song Sales ( Billboard ) [9] 45
UK Singles Downloads (OCC) [10] 19
US Rock Digital Songs (Billboard) [11] 12

Related Research Articles

<i>Passion</i> (Peter Gabriel album) 1989 soundtrack album by Peter Gabriel

Passion is an album released in 1989 by the English singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel. It was the first Peter Gabriel album to be released on Real World Records, Gabriel's second soundtrack, and his eighth album overall.

<i>So</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Peter Gabriel

So is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Peter Gabriel, released on 19 May 1986 by Charisma Records and Virgin Records. After working on the soundtrack to the film Birdy (1984), producer Daniel Lanois was invited to remain at Gabriel's Somerset home during 1985 to work on his next solo project. Initial sessions for So consisted of Gabriel, Lanois and guitarist David Rhodes, although these grew to include a number of percussionists.

<i>Paul Stanley</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Paul Stanley

Paul Stanley is the first solo album from American musician Paul Stanley, the singer-songwriter best known for serving as the rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of hard rock band Kiss. It was one of four solo albums released by the members of Kiss on September 18, 1978, yet still under the Kiss label, and coming out alongside Peter Criss, Ace Frehley, and Gene Simmons. It is the only release out of the four Kiss solo albums to feature all original songs, as Simmons, Criss and Frehley each recorded one cover song on their albums.

<i>Up</i> (Peter Gabriel album) 2002 studio album by Peter Gabriel

Up is the seventh studio and thirteenth album overall by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel, released on 23 September 2002 through Geffen and Real World Records. The album rose to number 9 in the US, number 11 in the UK, and captured the number 1 position in Italy. Most critics reviewed it positively, though Rolling Stone said Gabriel was "out of touch". This would be Gabriel's last studio album of new original material for 21 years until the release of I/O (2023), although he did release several studio projects in the interim.

<i>Mister Heartbreak</i> 1984 studio album by Laurie Anderson

Mister Heartbreak is the second studio album by American avant-garde artist, singer and composer Laurie Anderson, released on February 14, 1984, by Warner Bros. Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sledgehammer (Peter Gabriel song)</span> 1986 single by Peter Gabriel

"Sledgehammer" is a song by the English rock musician Peter Gabriel. It was released in April 1986 as the lead single from his fifth studio album, So (1986). It was produced by Gabriel and Daniel Lanois. It reached No. 1 in Canada on 21 July 1986, where it spent four weeks; No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States on 26 July 1986; and No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart, thanks in part to its music video. It was his biggest hit in North America and ties with "Games Without Frontiers" as his biggest hit in the United Kingdom.

<i>Exposure</i> (Robert Fripp album) 1979 studio album by Robert Fripp

Exposure is the debut solo album by guitarist and composer Robert Fripp. Unique among Fripp solo projects for its focus on the pop song format, it grew out of his previous collaborations with David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, and Daryl Hall, and the latter two singers appear on the album. Released in 1979, it peaked at No. 79 on the Billboard Album Chart. Most of the lyrics were provided by the poet and lyricist Joanna Walton, who also coined the term "Frippertronics" to describe Fripp's tape looping techniques.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blood of Eden</span> 1993 single by Peter Gabriel

"Blood of Eden" is the third single from English rock musician Peter Gabriel's sixth album, Us (1992), featuring backing vocals by Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O'Connor. It was written by Gabriel and produced by him with Daniel Lanois. The single was released in March 1993 by Geffen, Real World and Virgin, and narrowly failed to enter the UK top 40, peaking at number 43.

<i>Second Coming</i> (Stryper album) 2013 studio album by Stryper

Second Coming is the fourteenth release and ninth studio album by American Christian heavy metal/hard rock band Stryper. The album features re-recorded versions of earlier material as well as two new songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Court (song)</span> 2023 single by Peter Gabriel

"The Court" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel. A version of the song mixed by Tchad Blake, titled the "Dark-Side Mix", was released on 5 February 2023. It was the second single released from I/O and reached number 59 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart. Much like "Panopticom", the single's release date was chosen to coincide with a full moon. Versions of the song entitled the "Bright-Side Mix" and the "In-Side Mix"(completed by Hans-Martin Buff) were later released.

<i>I/O</i> (album) 2023 studio album by Peter Gabriel

I/O is the tenth studio album by English singer-songwriter and musician Peter Gabriel, released on 1 December 2023 through Real World Records. It is Gabriel's first album of new original material in over 21 years since Up (2002), marking the longest gap between two studio albums in his solo career. I/O features 12 tracks, each with two different mixes labeled the "Bright-Side Mix" and "Dark-Side Mix". It is also Gabriel's longest studio album of original material, with both mixes each clocking in at over 68 minutes and the total project lasting over two hours. An additional "In-Side Mix" of the album is available on versions which include the Blu-ray audio disc.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Playing for Time (song)</span> 2023 single by Peter Gabriel

"Playing for Time" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, released in March 2023 as the third single in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O. This is his first album of original material since 2002's Up. Two versions of the song have been released: the "Bright Side Mix" and the "Dark Side Mix". The cover art for this track features Annette Messager's Mes voeux . Recorded at Gabriel's Real World Studios in Wiltshire and the Beehive and British Grove Studios in London, "Playing For Time" features regulars Tony Levin on bass and Manu Katché on drums. The single was released on March 7 and the full moon, called the Worm Moon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I/O (song)</span> 2023 single by Peter Gabriel

"I/O" is the fourth single and title track of English musician Peter Gabriel's tenth studio album I/O, his first album of original material since 2002's Up, and his first featuring a title track. Two versions of the song have been released: the "Bright-Side Mix" and the "Dark-Side Mix". I/O was released on the Pink Moon, the full moon in April, which occurred on the 6th.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Four Kinds of Horses</span> 2023 single by Peter Gabriel

"Four Kinds of Horses" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, released in May 2023 as the fifth single in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O. The track has been described by Rolling Stone as atmospheric, swirling, and sparkling. The cover artwork was done by Cornelia Parker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Road to Joy (Peter Gabriel song)</span> 2023 single by Peter Gabriel

"Road to Joy" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, released in June 2023 as the sixth single in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O. The track is one of the last tracks to emerge for the album, it had originally been conceived around 2000's OVO called "Pukka", albeit sounding very different to the final rendition of the track. The track was produced by Gabriel and English musician Brian Eno, and features Tony Levin on bass, Manu Katché on drums, John Metcalfe on string arrangements, and the Soweto Gospel Choir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Olive Tree (song)</span> 2023 single by Peter Gabriel

"Olive Tree" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, released in August 2023 as the eighth single in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O. Since August has a blue moon, this is the first of two tracks that was released in August, the other being "Love Can Heal". The track has been described by Louder as "uptempo" and "jaunty". Gabriel said of the song, "I wanted it to have some speed to it but I also wanted some mystery, too. I think it is a celebration in a way and there's a real sense of being alive."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">So Much (Peter Gabriel song)</span> 2023 single by Peter Gabriel

"So Much" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, released in July 2023 as the seventh single in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O. Similar to other singles from the album, "So Much" was released to coincide with a full moon, starting with the Dark-Side Mix produced by Tchad Blake. Later in the month, two additional mixes created by Mark 'Spike' Stent and Hans-Martin Buff were released.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Can Heal</span> 2023 single by Peter Gabriel

"Love Can Heal" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, released on 31 August 2023 as the ninth single in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O. Due to August having a blue moon, this was the second of two tracks to be released in August alongside "Olive Tree". According to Gabriel, the track is a "dreamy, experiential piece with some abstract imagery" and "a carpet of sound, a tapestry where things are woven together, but not necessarily supposed to stick out, but just form part of a whole".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Is Home (Peter Gabriel song)</span> 2023 single by Peter Gabriel

"This Is Home" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, released on 29 September 2023 as the tenth single in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O. According to Gabriel, the track is a "love song", and "began with inspiration from some of the great Tamla Motown rhythm sections so we're trying to recreate that in a modern way, complete with the tambourine and handclaps".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Live and Let Live (Peter Gabriel song)</span> 2023 single by Peter Gabriel

"Live and Let Live" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, first released on 27 November 2023 as the final single released in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O, four days before the record's release. It is the final track on the record; the dark-side and in-side mixes of the track are also extended by an additional 25 seconds. The artwork for the single was designed by Nick Cave with his piece "Soundsuit".

References

  1. "Peter Gabriel Confirms First New Album In A Decade". Clash. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  2. Gleadow, Ewan (9 January 2023). "Peter Gabriel - Panopticom Review". Cult Following. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Bonner, Michael (6 January 2023). "Hear Peter Gabriel's new track, "Panopticom"". Uncut . Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  4. Jones, Damian (6 January 2023). "Peter Gabriel shares rousing new single 'Panopticom' from forthcoming album 'i/o'". NME . Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  5. Hussey, Allison (6 January 2023). "Peter Gabriel Shares New Song "Panopticom": Listen". Pitchfork . Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  6. Rogerson, Ben (6 February 2023). "Peter Gabriel releases new single Panopticom, with Brian Eno providing "haunting electronics"". MusicRadar. Retrieved 17 February 2024.
  7. "Red Gravity – David Spriggs" . Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  8. "New song from Peter Gabriel! – SuperDeluxeEdition". 6 January 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
  9. "Peter Gabriel Chart History (Canadian Digital Song Sales)". Billboard . Retrieved 1 October 2022.
  10. "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  11. "Peter Gabriel Chart History". Billboard Rock Digital Songs . Retrieved 27 August 2023.