Peter Gabriel announces new album ‘o/i’ and looks to the future on new single ‘Been Undone’

Peter Gabriel has announced a new album and shared the first taster from the record ‘Been Undone’.

The release, which is the follow up to 2023’s ‘i/o’, will once again see him release a new song every time there is a full moon, with the full LP set to drop by the end of the year.

Each song on ‘o/i’ will come with “differing interpretations in the shape of Dark-Side and Bright-Side mixes”, according to a press release.

The first single ‘Been Undone’ is a Dark-Side Mix by Tchad Blake, which you can listen to here.

Each track on the new album will be accompanied by a piece of art and ‘Been Undone’ is accompanied by Ciclotrama 156 (Palindrome) by São Paulo–based artist Janaina Mello Landini.

“The first artwork is a special piece from Janaina Mello Landini. The way she takes the rope and moves it out, unravelling it, is almost like fractals or tree trunks and looks like the brain in some ways too, so I see a lot of entry points,” said Gabriel.

“I am delighted that Janaina is willing to participate and be part of the process. We are using one of her existing images for this month to open the whole proceedings but I’m excited that she’s now going to create a piece, especially for the song. That always gives it a little more excitement from my end to see what’s going to come up. Please do check out her work.”

The track was written and produced by Gabriel and recorded at Real World Studios, Bath and The Beehive in London.

Of the album, he said: “I’m delighted to say that tonight, at the full moon, we will be beginning another year of full moon releases under the name ‘o\i’. The songs are a mix of thoughts and feelings.

“I have been thinking about the future and how we might respond to it. We are sliding into a period of transition like no other, most likely triggered in three waves; AI, quantum computing and the brain computer interface. Artists have a role to look into the mists and, when they catch sight of something, to hold up a mirror.”

Gabriel went on to say that “these are my lumpy bits – i/o: the inside has a new way out and o\i: the outside has a new way in”.

He added: “We are not, and have never been, the exclusively self-determining, independent beings that have been given the run of the world. We are something else, a part of nature, a part of everything and feeling a connection, shaking our booty and giving and receiving some love can help us find our place – and put a big smile on our faces.

“Some of these songs are going to form part of the brain project that I’ve been exploring for a number of years, and some just make me feel happy. I hope you like them.”

Elsewhere, Gabriel recently personally thanked director Josh Safdie for including his song ‘I Have The Touch’ in the new film Marty Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet.