Back to simplicity, this seems to be the motto of Peter Gabriel's first record since Up (2002). On that album he explored the possibilities of digital recording technology to his heart's content, with an interesting but top-heavy result. In comparison, Scratch My Back sounds quite humble, if only because of its approach to using songs from other artists he admires only. The arrangements sound
… acoustic, organic and sometimes even downright minimalist, such as in the purely piano-arranged opening duo Heroes (David Bowie) and The Boy In The Bubble (Paul Simon). Songs that are sometimes barely recognizable due to Gabriel's supported interpretation and are given a completely different meaning. The choice for work by less established artists such as Bon Iver, Arcade Fire, The Magnetic Fields and Regina Spektor make Scratch My Back more interesting than the average cover album. This CD is linked to the project I'll Scratch Yours, on which the covered artists work on a song by Gabriel. (MS)more
