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I don't imagine everyone would think so. The music here is more restrained than on anything since his first album, tempered to a degree by his ambient experiments in the 1980s. However, each song is a well-crafted gem, multi-layered music (much of it exotic in origin, courtesy of GABRIEL'S growing commitment to world music) supplementing thoughtful lyrics. The gauchness of GABRIEL'S GENESIS years has gone. This is sophisticated, understated art rock.

Some of the tracks, such as 'Washing of the Water' (reminiscent of the stripped-down 'Here Comes The Flood') and 'Fourteen Black Paintings' are beautifully minimalist, whilst others build into powerful examinations of the human condition ('Secret World' and 'Only Us', my two favourite tracks on the album). It's not all highlights, however. 'Steam' is fun, but is clearly a pale imitation of 'Sledgehammer'. And the album does take a while to get going, worthy though the first three songs are.

This is a middle-aged man's album, exploring sexuality and gender trouble, as well as revisiting childhood with nostalgia. I'm not sure, therefore, that it will appeal to a younger audience looking for straightforward messages and dramatic moments. However, PETER GABRIEL manages here to be enthralling and entertaining, to me at least.

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