Scratch My Back

Peter Gabriel rather loftily describes his covers record as “a song exchange”, in which leading artists re-interpret material. The first in a series, all of the acts covered here will, in time, interpret Gabriel’s own material.

Well, you can’t fault his choice of tunes, which ranges from classic songs such as Randy Newman’s oft-recorded, ‘I Think It’s going To Rain Today’ and Bowie’s ‘Heroes’, to more contemporary and eclectic fare such as Elbow’s majestic ‘Mirrorball’ and Regina Spektor’s ‘Apres Moi’. What makes this all especially unique however is that the arrangements are entirely orchestral, with nary a drum beat, guitar lick or bass thump to be found.

Some of the songs benefit from this approach. Bon Iver’s tortured ‘Flume’ is one, while Arcade Fire’s ‘My Body Is A Cage’ is tailor made for the sweeping textures, Others such as Paul Simon’s ‘The Boy In The Bubble’ and Radiohead’s sombre ‘Street Spirit (Fade Out)’ could do with a rhythm section. Overall, the pace is slow and melancholic while the sound is lush and sumptuous, with production from Bob Ezrin and Tchad Blake.

Despite the grandiose cinematic backdrop, however, it’s a surprisingly intimate album, with Gabriel’s distinctive but increasingly well-worn vocals high in the mix.

Worthy and intriguing, but with strings attached.