Peter Gabriel – Been Undone (Dark-Side Mix)
Peter Gabriel kicks off 2026 with “Been Undone”, the first track from his new album “o\i” and a return to the full moon release format that worked so well for “i/o”. The nearly eight-minute song carries a curious origin story: built on chord progressions and riffs from a thirty-year-old demo called “Sit”, it’s simultaneously the oldest and newest piece on the record, only getting its final band recording in October 2025.
The Dark-Side Mix, handled by Tchad Blake, takes its time developing. A harmonium-like foundation gradually expands, layered with sounds and a fluttering rhythm section. Manu Katché’s drums are powerful but never overwhelming the track’s gentle momentum. During the bridge, Arabic-style percussion adds texture. The piece doesn’t follow a verse-chorus structure; instead, it builds through subtle shifts and quirky interludes.
Gabriel’s lyrics play with the double meaning in the title, listing things that have undone him: being ignored, weapons, the past, and even the Mandelbrot set. The words feel deliberately ambiguous, part of his ongoing brain project exploring perception and connection. But there’s optimism underneath the darkness: “Just listen and feel” appears in the middle section, and by the end: “And I feel it in you, you feel it in me.” The song suggests you learn most from difficult moments.
Richard Evans contributes electric guitar, acoustic guitar, and mandolin alongside the core band of Tony Levin on bass and David Rhodes on electric guitar. Faye Dolle handles rhythm programming and additional synths, with percussion from Charles Hughes and Ged Lynch. Gabriel plays piano, synths, and handles vocals.
The track pairs with artwork by São Paulo artist Janaina Mello Landini: “Ciclotrama 156 (Palindrome)” from 2019, made from handmade green cotton rope on linen. Gabriel sees brain hemispheres in the piece, threads being ravelled and unravelled, connections to the song’s themes.
Like “i/o”, “o\i” will deliver one song per full moon throughout 2026, with both Dark-Side and Bright-Side mixes. The Bright-Side Mix from Mark ‘Spike’ Stent should arrive soon, followed by a new track on February 1st. No firm release date for the complete album yet, but it will probably be late 2026.
