Editorial Review:

Item Description:
Big Blue Ball is the long-awaited, much-anticipated collection of stand-out tracks culled from the all-star, pan-global collaborations that took place over three years of Peter Gabriel s legendary Recording Week gatherings at his state-of-the-art Real World Studios in the English countryside.

Produced by Peter Gabriel, Karl Wallinger (of World Party, Waterboys) and Stephen Hague (Pet Shop Boys, OMD), it s a nonstop stream of poignant, sterling performances by a truly stellar lineup of artists-- including Gabriel, Wallinger, Sinead O Connor, Natacha Atlas, Iarla O Lionaird and James McNally (both of Afro Celt Sound System), Papa Wemba, Joseph Arthur, Tanzania s late music legend Hukwe Zawose, Hungary s Marta Sebestyen, Tim Finn, Cameroonian starFrancis Bebey, Vernon Reid, Justin Adams, Jah Wobble, Billy Cobham, Rupert Hine, gospel group the Holmes Brothers, flamenco guitarist Juan Canizares, Japanese percussionist Joji Hirota, and many more...in all totaling 75 artists from over 20 countries.

It s like a wall of sound coming at you, listening to the planet from outer space, says Karl Wallinger of the final mix. It s a real world-view of music, a snapshot of the music-making continents at that time. It s a more apt time to release it now than ever before. I think it s actually gathered weight with time, because it s people from all over the world playing together, just getting on together. There s an iconic aspect about that which is probably more important now. Things have become more partisan. It s a timely reminder of how you can cooperate.

Big Blue Ball s songs were created and recorded between 1991 and 1995, but the album has been an active work-in-progress at Real World ever since, a labor of love with ace producer Stephen Hague working closely with Peter Gabriel and Karl Wallinger. Holding the disparate elements in place is the powerful backbone of big drum tracks underpinning many of the songs. Wallinger says, Everyone was in orbit around this groove, and there is a universal language of dance, of dance grooves. That groove is the one bit that s non-denominational on the album.

Says Peter Gabriel, It s a fine wine ready to be drunk. It was the most fun music making I ve ever had. I d love to do it again.









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Disc 1:

1. Whole Thing (Original Mix) (feat. Francis Bebey, Alex Faku, Tim Finn, Peter Gabriel, Karl Walllinger, Andy White)
2. Habibe (feat Natacha Atlas, Hossam Ramzy, Neil Sparkes)
3. Shadow (feat. Juan Cañizares, Papa Wemba)
4. altus silva (feat. Joseph Arthur, Ronan Browne, Deep Forest, James McNally, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Vernon Reid)
5. Exit Through You (feat. Joseph Arthur, Peter Gabriel, Karl Wallinger)
6. Everything Comes From You (feat. Richard Evans, Joji Hirota, Sevara Nazarkhan, Sinead O Connor, Guo Yue)
7. Burn You Up, Burn You Down (feat. Billy Cobham, Peter Gabriel, The Holmes Brothers, Wendy Melvoin, Arona N diaye, Jah Wobble)
8. Forest (feat. Levon Minassian, Arona N Diaye, Vernon Reid, Hukwe Zawose)
9. Rivers (feat. Vernon Reid, Marta Sebestyen, Karl Wallinger)
10. Jijy (feat. Arona N Diaye, Rossy, Jah Wobble)
11. Big Blue Ball (feat. Peter Gabriel, Manu Katché, Karl Wallinger)

Rating: - * Big Blue Ball ... I've been a fan of Mr. Gabriel since he went solo a few decades ago. Without a doubt, he is a unique musical talent. This compilation CD is a nice addition to his repertoire. I'm particularly drawn to "Exit Through You", co-written with Joseph Arthur, and "Altus Silva", also written by Mr. Arthur and Iarla O' Lionaird. I just have one complaint with this CD-there aren't enough Peter Gabriel songs! Then again, one the many objectives of any artist is to"leave em wanting more." Rating: - * There is a reason... ... Things sometimes get put off for a reason. Lack of interest, better things to do, or just plain not worth the time or effort. This seems to be the result here. I will always support anything Peter Gabriel touches and my wife is an even bigger fan (she didn't like it either), but this pushes the bounds even for me. It is such a hodgepodge of varying styles that no flow is given to the work as a whole. There are maybe 2 or 3 tracks even worth a listen, Peter's and the haunting track by Sinead. Spend your money elsewhere. Rating: - * Why is this recommended with Viva la Vida? ... I was interested in trying out some new music and thought I'd give this a try. In a word...suck. I can't even tell you how sucky and boring this music is. It is a total joke that amazon tries to sell this together with Viva la Vida. It's not even similar, except for possibly the first track, which is bearable. It's sloppy, pieced together and pretentiously "international." If this is international music, spare me. Normally I'm a very subjective and unbiased person but this is too much. I can't believe I fell for this album... Rating: - * Love it! ... I have always been a huge fan of Peter Gabrial and the projects he has taken on. This project is one of the most interesting he has done. I have been a fan of World music for many years and he has brought together some of the best. I will always be a fan. It would be nice to hear what else did not make it to the CD or to have a follow up of some of the other great artists that contributed to this project. Kudos!! Rating: - * Don't miss it ... If you have SO, US or UP, you can't miss this exciting album. The Gabriel's influence is all over every track... It's the missing piece in between US and UP, you will discover what kind of music Peter had created, played or simply listen during his long silence. A new milestone.