Peter Gabriel: So

Peter Gabriel’s fifth studio album is by far one of his most accomplished. Lead single ‘Sledgehammer’ is a joyous, electro-funk track with an onomatopoeic title. All chugging and metronomic sledgehammer beats and incredibly upbeat melody it is an instant standout classic. An innovative video helped propel this mid-eighties song into the cultural consciousness and increased Gabriel’s mainstream appeal.

So became a game changer. According to Gabriel himself he "wanted to get back to a more traditional form of song writing, to have some fun, to be a bit less sombre and mysterious". He certainly achieved this with an album overwhelmingly about fun. Daniel Lanois helped with his lavish and warm production adding textures and layers to the heady mix of musical styles contained in the record.

‘Red Rain’ opens and is a dense mix of atmospheric synths and live drums perfectly foreshadowing ‘Sledgehammer’. So’s most enduring song is the powerful and emotionally charged ‘Don’t Give Up’, a sentimental six minute ballad with Kate Bush, it echoed the political climate of the time, rising unemployment and the feeling of helplessness. Only in the last few lines are there moments of hope and optimism.

‘Big Time’ is the highlight, an art-pop track with a funk skin, it sparkles with urban groove and sharp beats. It’s ability to still sound so contemporary is a testament to the quality of wrting and production.

Throughout the album Gabriel’s voice is gruff and husky lending an AOR edge to the proceedings but it is the layered production and nuanced song writing that elevates it beyond its contemporaries.

So is arguably Gabriel's finest album and a snapshot of an artist at his creative peak. Destined to be included in future top album polls there is barely a miss-step amongst the superbly balanced electronic and digital production.