PETER GABRIEL - PANOPTICOM

Released: January 6, 2023

Album: I/O

“Panopticom” is a song by Peter Gabriel, released in January 2023 as the first single from “I/O”, his first album of original material since 2002’s “Up”. Three versions were released: the Bright Side Mix (mixed by Mark “Spike” Stent), the Dark Side Mix (mixed by Tchad Blake), and the In-Side Mix (mixed by Hans-Martin Buff). 

“Panopticom” was released on the first full moon of 2023, with Gabriel planning to release future “I/O” tracks on full moons as well. He explained that much of his writing for the album focuses on humanity’s destruction of the planet and the need to reconnect with nature. The song’s title refers to a proposed data globe concept, allowing limitless accumulation and accessibility of information—contrasting with the Panopticon, a metaphor for surveillance and lack of privacy. 

Recorded at Real World Studios and The Beehive, the track features longtime collaborators Tony Levin (bass), David Rhodes (guitar), Manu Katché (drums), and Real World Studios engineer Katie May (acoustic guitar). Brian Eno contributes atmospheric electronics, while Ríoghnach Connolly of The Breath provides backing vocals. Gabriel wrote and produced the track himself.

Peter Gabriel released a video for Panopticom (Dark-Side Mix) on September 13, 2023, created by Vietnamese AI artist Lamson, the winner of the Peter Gabriel / Stability AI competition. The video depicts Panopticon Prison, a dystopian city where corruption and technology merge, creating a monstrous cyborg that consumes information and transforms all living beings into surveillance cyborgs.

Lamson described his artistic process as deeply personal, shaped by his feelings and experiences, and noted that the song perfectly expressed his feeling of being constantly watched in the age of social media.

Gabriel had previously released another video for Panopticom, created by competition runner-up Vnderworld.

The cover artwork for the single features Red Gravity by David Spriggs, a 2021 piece created with acrylic paint on layered plexiglass. The artwork depicts a red vortex with a black hole at its center, symbolizing themes of surveillance that align with the song’s lyrics. Gabriel was drawn to this visual representation and sought Spriggs’ permission to use it as the cover art. Red Gravity was also used as a backdrop for performances of “Panopticom” during Gabriel’s i/o tour.