Peter Gabriel Drops New Single, 'Panopticom'; More To Come Next Full Moon

Peter Gabriel released the first single from his forthcoming new album, i/o, on Friday (January 6).

"Panopticom" embodies Gabriel's classic sound with a slow build, powerful melody and ambitious production.

You can listen to it via the player above!

"The first song is based on an idea I have been working on to initiate the creation of an infinitely expandable accessible data globe: The Panopticom," Gabriel said via a press release. "We are beginning to connect a like-minded group of people who might be able to bring this to life, to allow the world to see itself better and understand more of what's really going on."

"Panopticom" is Gabriel's first new original song since 2016 and the i/o album will be his first full-length album in more than 20 years.

But the forward-looking Gabriel isn't content to release his new record like his previous one. "Panopticom" arrived on a full moon, and Gabriel signaled that that is how he plans to release subsequent singles.

"Some of what I'm writing about this time is the idea that we seem incredibly capable of destroying the planet that gave us birth and that unless we find ways to reconnect ourselves to nature and to the natural world we are going to lose a lot," Gabriel added of the album concept. "A simple way of thinking about where we fit into all of this is looking up at the sky ... and the moon has always drawn me to it."

Gabriel announced the new album and a tour of Europe and the U.K. in November. Go here for the tour dates.