While everyone debates whether AI will save or doom humanity, Peter Gabriel is already composing the soundtrack. The prog rock visionary just announced o/i, his follow-up to 2023’s acclaimed i/o, along with lead single “Been Undone”—a haunting meditation on technological transformation that feels both ancient and impossibly futuristic.
The Full Moon Strategy Returns
Gabriel’s sticking with his lunar release calendar, dropping tracks aligned with each full moon throughout 2026. This isn’t just cosmic theater—it’s a deliberate rejection of streaming’s instant-gratification model. You get to anticipate, digest, and live with each song before the next arrives.
“Been Undone” launched as the Dark-Side Mix produced by Tchad Blake, with its Bright-Side counterpart coming later. The strategy transforms album releases from Netflix-style binges into something closer to appointment television. Each track gets breathing room, proper artwork, and your undivided attention.
Brain-Computer Interface Blues
Gabriel describes o/i as exploring “future transitions triggered by AI, quantum computing, and brain-computer interfaces.” He frames it as “oi: the outside has a new way in,” contrasting i/o‘s inward focus. Some tracks connect to his ongoing “brain project”—Gabriel’s exploration of consciousness, technology, and human connection.
Recorded at Real World Studios in Bath and The Beehive in London, “Been Undone” captures this perfectly. Gabriel’s vocals float over Blake’s atmospheric production, creating something that feels both deeply human and distinctly digital.
Visual Storytelling Continues
São Paulo artist Janaina Mello Landini created accompanying artwork Ciclotrama 156 (Palindrome)—fractal-like unraveling rope imagery evoking brain structures and tree trunks. Gabriel noted his excitement for her creating custom work for future tracks, emphasizing his multimedia vision.
This isn’t nostalgia disguised as innovation. Gabriel remains genuinely curious about technology’s impact on consciousness, connection, and creativity. At 75, he’s asking better questions about our digital future than most artists half his age.
The full album arrives by year’s end, assuming you’re patient enough to let it unfold on lunar time.
