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completely immerses you - am overwhelmed

me too.am just on the final track.I've had goose pimples during certain tracks !! Gary

Me too. Magnificent. . . . .

i've always admired peter's adventurous spirit, and he's certainly taken some chances with this new record. i must say however, after a couple of(laptop computer)listens courtesy of kcrw.org, i'm seriously dissapointed. 'listening wind' is awesome, but the rest is a bit dreary, and 'street spirit' is a total embarrassment, i'm afraid. i do think it's possible to pull off a project like this - joni mitchell recorded 2 really good albums of orchestral material ('travelogue', which consisted of her own stuff re-arranged and recorded for orchestra, and 'both sides now' which was a collection of covers.) hopefully a few more listens on a real home stereo will change my mind.

Up there with his best work imo,emotion pouring out of every note.stunning.

I find it interesting that people either say they love this album or they don't. Like all other albums I've listened to, there are some tracks I like and others that do little for me. SMB is the same. There are about 4 tracks I really found jarring but may grow on me later. The other 8 tracks are wonderful because they mix beautiful songwriting, PG's voice with interesting interpretations and an orchestra!

I love "Scratch by Back"! The more I listen to it the better it becomes. I created a Scratch my Back - Fanpage on Facebook. so, feel free to join it http://www.facebook.com/pages/Scratch-my-Back/312482312760?ref=search&sid=1430332934.2029023107.1

"Scratch My Back" could turn out to be one of the favourite Gabriel albums. The fact that it doesn't feature any guitars or percussion instruments makes it very refreshing and original. Restricting himself to piano and strings makes this much more adventurous than another Gabriel album based on world rhythms. Listen to those wonderful string arrangements! Listen to his emotional voice! For me, with songs like Flume, My Body Is A Cage and Apres Moi, Gabriel adds an emotional depth that I didn't hear in the originals. His interpretation of Listening Wind is also amazing. And The Power Of The Heart is one of the biggest surprises. Beautiful song. Great! So, thanks Peter!

my grandma begun to weep when she listened to nice poems - tears of emotions. And so I succeeded this little idiosyncrasy by hearing music (which reach me). And so tear drops warm up my face today, hearing the album. Thank you for this beautiful music and lyrics. Liebe Gruesse aus Bingen Kim Werner PS: Happy Birthday

I listened to the whole thing in the car this morning, driving across the misty Sussex Downs. I found it riveting, stark and dramatic. Looking forward to getting really well aquainted with it, but on first hearing I feel like it's going to live up to all my hopes for it. Initially, I particularly loved Listening Wind, Power of Your Heart, Apres Moi & Boy in the Bubble.

Still waiting on the cd. Come on Womad Shop! I have listened to the entire album online several times. Could simply not wait. Like most, I have really warmed up to this unusual collection: a beautiful collection that will play extremely well on rainy Sunday afternoons. I will also add, that for me anyways, the more familiar I was with the original song, the more difficult it was for me to tap into Gabriel's revision. It took a couple of listens to begin to distance myself from the original and listen to the song with fresh ears. But once that did occur the distinct journeys Gabriel offers with these songs began to surface. Not that the original can ever completely disappear when you listen, but you do gain the room necessary to appreciate the differences. I imagine the accompanying CD will receive a lot of criticism especially from Gabriel fans who are so close to the originals.

Arrived this morning and enjoying iy v much so far. Love the minimalist approach in the orchestral arrangements -def Arvo Partish.

Stark, beautiful and naked! Loving it! The music I mean. :-]

I was really disappointed when i listened on my pc to steaming tracks. however - in the flesh, so to speak, & on my home stereo i am filled with all sorts of emotions. i could go on and on at the beauty of these songs and the anger at the fact the world clearly doesn't listen to all sorts of voices & views. I now get 'boy in the bubble' like never before - very chilling and very upsetting, given the world today. In short this album does what music should do - it moves me. In fact it moves me so much i am almost worried why others don't get it. It is either me who is wired differently or it is others - who knows! thanks Peter