Wednesday, September 28, 2022

On The Air

Peter Gabriel's first solo album was spectacular but disappointing. The songs were brilliant and beautifully sung, as we had come to expect from Gabriel. And the performances were top-notch, which was no surprise considering that he'd assembled a band of fabulous musicians.

But the sound was muddy -- awash in textures run amok. It sounded like what you would hear if somebody threw a sleeping bag over your head at a concert and you left it there for the whole show. And some of us were wondering what Peter was thinking.

We didn't have to wonder for very long. Here's the first track from his second solo album:



Of course it works well live:



Built in the belly of junk by the river my cabin stands
Made from the trash I dug out 'the heap, with my own fair hands
Every night, I'm back at the shack and I'm sure no one is there
I'm putting the aerial up, so I can go out on the air

On the air
On the air
On the air

Every morning I'm out at dawn with the dwarfs and the tramps
For a silent communion lit from above by the sodium lamps
Everyone I meet on the street acts as if I wasn't there
But they're all going to know who I am 'cause I can go out on the air

On the air
On the air
On the air

Leaving the car down leafy lane
Turning out Tarzan for my Jungle Jane
Anyone at all
From Captain Zero and his brand of superhero
Standing by a call
Oh it's not easy
No it's not easy
Making real friends

Don't give me your steak-reared milk boys, milk boys
Half alive on empty white noise, white noise
I got power, I'm proud to be loud; my signal goes out clear
I want everybody to know that Mozo is here

On the air
On the air
On the air