LONDON, UK (Top40 Charts/
Peter Gabriel Official Website/ EMI) -
Peter Gabriel will release his Scratch My Back March 2 via EMI.
The album is the first part of a series of song exchanges in which Gabriel and other leading artists reinterpret each other's songs. EMI
Music will also be releasing the album via its Virgin label outside the US on February 15.
"We've had a long association with
Peter Gabriel throughout his career at EMI and we are very excited to be releasing this amazing album in the US market," Dominic Pandiscia, SVP and GM of EMI Label Services and Caroline Distribution. "We're honored to work with an artist who has proven time and again that he is a musical innovator and a massively creative force."
In addition, EMI Label Services will make an exclusive 7" AA vinyl release available at independent retailers to celebrate Record Store Day in the US on April 17th. The 7" features Peter Gabriel's "The Book of Love" and "Not One of Us"; a track written by Gabriel and performed by Stephin Merritt of The Magnetic Fields.
Full Moon Club Double A Singles announced for February, March & April.
To coincide with the arrival of every full moon in 2010, each month a digital double A-side single will be unleashed, neatly pairing one of the songs from Scratch My Back with the reciprocal Gabriel track recorded by that particular songwriter.
"I have always been fascinated with the craft and the process of putting together a good song. I always wanted to do an album of other people's songs, but rather than do a traditional cover record I though it would be much more interesting to have a song exchange project in which I would ask some of my favourite writers if they would swap songs " - Peter Gabriel
The Boy In The Bubble / Biko - February 28
While Peter empties Paul Simon's original of all its elasticity and bounce, exposing its heart-melting lyrics, the New Yorker returns the favour by refreshing Peter's tribute to the late anti-apartheid activist, opting to be backed by the rolling sound of a 12-string guitar. While Biko might be an obvious choice for the Graceland guy, his distinctive voice - simultaneously commanding yet youthful - is the perfect messenger for a song calling for empathy and justice.
Flume / Come Talk To Me - March 30
A double A-side to savour, as Peter's epic take on Bon Iver's Flume is paired with the enigmatically monikered Wisconsin singer-songwriter's interpretation of "Come Talk To Me" from 1992's Us. They're both astonishing, the latter initially wearing the light shades of bluegrass and calypso before building into something akin to gospel as it supplies seven minutes of deep spirituality.
The Power Of The Heart / Solsbury Hill - April 28
On which both interpreters stay true to the open-eared principles of Scratch My Back. Peter's take on Lou Reed's "The Power Of The Heart" offers up a characteristically open vocal performance, while Lou defiantly applies the snarling, street-savvy sound of New York City to that iconic West Country protuberance. "It's crazy," explains Peter's engineer Richard Chappell, "as bold a cover as I've ever heard."
The first full moon of 2010 has already released the project's first double A-side - the pairing of Peter's euphoric take on The Magnetic Fields' The Book Of Love and the reciprocal retread given by Stephin Merritt's indie-pop collective to Not One Of Us.
Real World takes the theme of artist collaboration to next level with the Real World Remixed Contest
Peter Gabriel's "Not One Of Us" is the first release available through Real World Remixed, an initiative that chimes perfectly with Scratch My Back's themes of exchange and collaboration. This allows remixers to reassemble and re-interpret some of Peter Gabriel's core repertoire in whatever shape or form their imaginations allow. Having downloaded sample packs, remixers employ the technology and techniques of their choice and are then invited to upload their creations on the Real World Remixed site to be evaluated by fellow members.
"Peter is always up for hearing other peoples' ways of doing music," explains Richard Chappell, "it's what keeps him going. He's never precious about keeping it going in one way. He enjoys chaos and gets off on how one person's idea can trigger another's - a kind of musical pass-the-parcel."
Over the course of 2010, four of Peter's songs will be made available through Real World Remixed. The best remix of each track, as judged by Peter, will have the honour of then being commercially released - and to the remixer, a share of the royalties.
