Peter Gabriel's New Song "I Belong to the Sky" Channels the Synth-Driven Spirit of the '80s

Peter Gabriel has released the "Bright-Side Mix" of "I Belong to the Sky" as the first track from his upcoming album, 'o\i,' whose release date has yet to be announced. Timing the release to the lunar calendar, the singer chose to share the bright mix on a night when the world would witness the strawberry supermoon; the "Dark-Side Mix" will follow with the new moon on July 14.

At least in its Bright-Side form, the song stands out as a slow burn running over seven minutes. Bubbling synths reminiscent of deep cuts from Gabriel's entirely digital 1982 self-titled album blend with wisps of saxophone and shimmering backing vocals to create a nostalgic yet hazy texture. At one point Gabriel sings, "I'm bringing the dream to life," and shortly after, whether intentionally or by coincidence, seems to nod to Newton's law of gravity with the line "the picture's falling." Not exactly "bright" in tone, the track feels more like a wish than a declaration.

In his statement, Gabriel said the song had a long gestation period, noting that it nearly made it onto his 2023 album 'i/o' but wasn't finished in time. He also teased a small surprise regarding the title of 'o\i': read aloud, the album's name is 'i/o' spelled backward, hinting that it will offer a mirror-image perspective on themes from the previous record.