UP

No compromise, this album is definitely BIG FIVE STAR. Any of you who disagree with me should play it repeatedly and enjoy the total experience listening to this brilliant work of PETER GABRIEL! It's preferably enjoyed with loud volume. This might be the best that GABRIEL has ever produced in his solo career. I realize now that what my friend commented sometime in 80s: "If Gabriel did not quit GENESIS, he might go insane". My friend is right. GABRIEL is much better with his solo career. He has created a music of his own identity. No one can beat him. He created different kind of music; not a derivative of early GENESIS or even other musicians.

This album has been and will be my longtime favorite. It has a top notch production with many exploration of sounds in its tracks. The CD package is unique: no title at the CD cover but there is a sticker posted at the front side of the CD jewel. The other thing is that the disc itself has also no title; not even single character. It may confuse you as to choose which side will be put in your player. But if you are smart enough you would notice that there is a pink color spot at the inner circle of the disc which should be treated as UP side of the disc. Brilliant idea!

In this album, GABRIEL collaborates with many musicians with various musical backgrounds, for example STEVE GADD, a respected drummer in jazz arena. Also, he introduced new drummer GED LYNCH (drums) who supported him during GROWING UP Tour. MANU KATCHE, one of my favorite drummers also contributes in this album. This album still have DAVID RHODES (guitar) and TONY LEVIN (bass).

Let's talk musically. This album represents GABRIEL's exploration of his previous works. The music in this album is "discrete" and typically like the music of SAN JACINTO, WALLFLOWER, BLOOD OF EDEN, RHYTHM OF THE HEAT, THE FAMILY AND THE FISHING NET. Definitely, you would not find any song similar to SLEDGEHAMMER or BIG TIME or SHOCK THE MONKEY. You would not find any sort of "continuous" music that flows naturally as typical art rock music.

My best favorite track is SIGNAL TO NOISE. I cannot believe that human being could ever create this well-researched (in terms of sounds) and well-thought-of song. Every detail of this track is really great! Many melodies in its musical segments are really wonderful and memorable. When I spin this CD and reach this track, I always repeat this track 3 times (minimum) with my fingers keep adjusting amplifier volume to satisfy my enjoyment. Usually, I don't want to be disturbed by anything else when listening to this track. I'm so "entrance" with it. The tagline melody is great, combined with excellent orchestration at the background. The additional vocal of NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN is terrific. Many sound explorations are produced brilliantly in this track. I like the piece when GABRIEL sings "Turn up the signal wipe out the noise!" followed by sort of guitar rhythm and programmed drumming. WOW! What a wonderful piece here!!!! It makes me cry from my heart. (later when I got a DVD of Growing UP Live, my admiration of this track has increased dramatically as the live version is much much much better!!!). The ending part of this track is really stunning with orchestration and percussion / drums tone rising up until it ends.

Other tracks are also excellent. DARKNESS is a great opening track with surprising sound after quiet and silent keyboard introduction. The music is discrete at the beginning but when it reaches the part where GABRIEL sings "When I allow it to be / There is no control over me .." the continuous music flows in with great melody.

GROWING UP is an upbeat tempo track with sort of disco music, but it's nice. Tony Levin's bass guitar playing is stunning. Many strange sound effects are carefully produced throughout the track. SKY BLUE is a melancholy song with touchy melody. - The Blind Boys of Alabama contributes this track on vocals altogether with GABRIEL. NO WAY OUT has a funny sound of guitar with simple melody in its opening, great bass guitar and electric piano.

I GRIEVE is another track of my favorite. It opens with a percussion sound loop followed by heavy, low yet powerful voice of GABRIEL. Again, the music is discrete but it's very nice. All music instruments' sounds are not typically produced by typical music instruments. Almost in all tracks this kind of sound is produced. This indicates how brilliant GABRIEL is. MY HEAD SOUNDS LIKE THAT is also an excellent track. THE DROP is a piano based song. It reminds me to the piano version of HERE COMES THE FLOOD.

If you like PETER GABRIEL 4 (SECURITY) or US, you will definitely love this album. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! If you have enjoyed this album, I will recommend you to purchase the Growing UP Tour DVD. Masterpiece!! I'm not yet fortunate for having a chance watching PETER GABRIEL performs on stage directly!! It's my dream. - Gatot Widayanto, Indonesia.