Peter Gabriel’s songs from his New Blood album have surfaced in playlists lately and they really resonate more than the original versions. The New Blood album is a hi-res recording with Gabriel reinterpreting his works to work with a symphony. Unlike nearly every rock or pop group that does an album with their songs it isn’t layering in swoopy strings and creating syrupy saccharine interpretations. Gabriel’s New Blood rewrote the pieces to be solid pieces and uses the orchestra as a percussive and large bold sound supporting his work. The deluxe version of the album includes instrumental versions and they hold up incredibly well on their own.
The album has no drumkit nor any other common pop or rock instrumentation. There is an abundance of strings, horns, woodwinds, and percussive instruments with a wonderful use of marimba (or possibly xylophone). The creation works really well for Gabriel’s music. There is really good interplay between sound and silence. The outcome is something more emotional and impactful.
Many of the songs selected and arranged are my favorite versions. San Jacinto is one I really like live versions, but the New Blood is incredibly moving and very cinematic. In Your Eyes is incredible on New Blood and it moves me really deeply the more I listen to it over the years. Don’t Give Up also hits much harder deep inside on New Blood.