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Big Blue Ball | 
| Artist: Big Blue Ball
Label: Real World
Category: Music
List Price: £13.99
Buy New: £8.78
You Save: £5.21 (37%)
New (23) Used (1) from £6.99
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 3979
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.7 x 0.3
EAN: 5037005000303
ASIN: B001BJH3UE
Release Date: July 28, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | Whole Thing (Original Mix) (feat. Peter Gabriel, Francis Bebey, Alex Faku, Tim Finn, Karl Walllinger, Andy White) | | • | Habibe (feat Natacha Atlas, Hossam Ramzy, Neil Sparkes) | | • | Shadow (feat. Juan Canizares, Papa Wemba) | | • | Altus Silva (feat. Joseph Arthur, Ronan Browne, Deep Forest, James McNally, Iarla O Lionaird, Vernon Reid) | | • | Exit Through You (feat. Joseph Arthur, Peter Gabriel, Karl Wallinger) | | • | Everything Comes From You (feat. Richard Evans, Joji Hirota, Sevara Nazarkhan, Sinead O'Connor, Guo Yue) | | • | Burn You Up, Burn You Down (feat. Peter Gabriel, Billy Cobham, The Holmes Brothers, Wendy Melvoin, Arona N diaye, Jah Wobble) | | • | Forest (feat. Levon Minassian, Arona N Diaye, Vernon Reid, Hukwe Zawose) | | • | Rivers (feat. Vernon Reid, Marta Sebestyen, Karl Wallinger) | | • | Jijy (feat. Arona N Diaye, Rossy, Jah Wobble) | | • | Big Blue Ball (feat. Karl Wallinger, Peter Gabriel, Manu Katché) |
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| Customer Reviews:
Amazingly coherent mish-mash October 28, 2008
A surprise release from Peter Gabriel, and an unexpected pleasure. Some of Gabriel's output over recent years has been patchy at best (like Ovo and the Rabbit Proof Fence soundtrack) and it seemed too much to hope that this collective effort could be as good as his most recent studio album Up. Ok, it's not as good as Up, and it's not a Gabriel solo effort, featuring a great many musicians and composers, but this compares very well with the music on Gabriel's Passion and Us.
It opens with Gabriel's Whole Thing, which begins relatively modestly and gently builds to a crescendo of layered vocals and percussion - worthy of inclusion on a PG solo album and in my opinion at least, better than anything on Us. The album abruptly changes tone with the eastern-influenced Habibe, which could have been taken from Anne Dudley and Jaz Coleman's excellent Minarets and Memories album. The album continues in a variety of world music styles, veering from Papa Wemba's fast-paced African pop to the Celtic flavour of Sinead O'Connor's Everything comes From You. Gabriel pops up all over the place, leading the vocal of the original version of Burn You Up, Burn You Down - a far looser and more entertaining take on the dancey one that was omitted from the UK release of Up. The album closes with Karl Wallinger's lovely title track - whatever happened to him after World Party?
Despite the huge variety of performers, singers, styles and compositions on the album (and sometimes within the same song), it actually works very well as a coherent album that can listened to from end to end. The production is also excellent. The only question it begs is why on earth has it taken 13 years to mix and master the material? Come on, PG, get your skates on, you'll be 70 before you release again at this rate!
 Big Blue Ball August 31, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
'Big Blue Ball' is a true world album in every sense of the word, with a hugely diverse and inspiring collection of artists in one place. From the wonderful album opener 'Whole Thing' you know you're in for a real treat. This song sounds strongly like a Peter Gabriel solo track, which is no bad thing at all. 'Habibe' has a beautiful Arabic feel, 'Shadow' is reminiscent of the Gypsy kings and 'Altus Silva' has heavenly celtic influences. Just some of the world influences on show here. There are haunting and moving lyrics on 'Everything Comes From You' and I could sit back and immerse myself in this track over and over. 'Burn You Up, Burn You Down' was originally heard on Peter Gabriel's 'Hit' CD and this alternative version is just as good nestled in the middle of this album. The sessions for this album became a hot bed of creativity and poetry and it is evident on every track. As Peter Gabriel described it, the sessions became like a musical dating agency with many artists coming together and writing and recording, and you can see that this album is the wonderful result of all those collaborations. The offspring of all those various musical liaisons. 'Rivers' has moving vocals and brooding emotion throughout and although my least favourite, the rap of 'Jijy' shows just how diverse and varied this album actually is. Finally you get the excellent and uplifting album closer 'Big Blue Ball' which tops off an evocative and stirring musical journey. It is rare for me to give a virtual track by track run down of an album but this offers so much variety, passion and beautiful music that every song here warrants a mention. A superb album and as you may have guessed, one I highly recommend.
 A big blue world of talent and great musicianship July 28, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Big Blue Ball is not a Peter Gabriel solo album, but a collection of tracks recorded at Gabriel's Real World Studios throughout three recording weeks in 1991, 1992 and 1995. It is the culmination of the work of musicians from all around the world, and it's nice to finally hear the results, albeit well over a decade later, which in Gabriel time is quite a fast turnaround.
Gabriel does take lead vocals on a couple of tracks, the first of these is opening number "Whole Thing" (as featured throughout Ewan McGregor's Long Way Down series), which is a wonderful song with one of the finest Gabriel vocals in a long time. The Gabriel and Karl Wallinger partnership really shines throughout this collection of songs, but most prominently on this track and the original version of "Burn You Up, Burn You Down" - the third version of this particular song, which differs from both the 2003 single release and the heavily synthesised version on Gabriel's Hit compilation.
The highlight for me though, is the Joseph Arthur/Gabriel duet, "Exit Through You", featuring a typical Gabriel groove, distorted drums and a wonderful performance from Peter. I was however, left craving for an all-Gabriel version, as this could have easily been a classic.
Nowadays, music making seems to be the last thing on Gabriel's list of priorities, and although as a visionary and ideas man, he's untouchable, there are still some of us who are craving for some new music from him, so for now, this is as good as it gets. Gabriel doesn't dominate the album though, only featuring heavily on the above three tracks, leaving a wealth of talent from across the globe, shine throughout the rest.
Other highlights for me include Natasha Atlas' wonderful performance during "Habibe", with her silky-smooth vocals working perfectly alongside an Egyptian string band flowing with eastern atmosphere. Sinaed O'Connor takes the lead on "Everything Comes from You", Papa Wemba gives a rather distinctive performance with Juan Canzares on the summery "Shadow". Joseph Arthur appears again with members of Deep Forest and Iarla O' Lionaird (who sung on Gabriel's Ovo album) on the rather lovely "Altus Silva", and there's more skilled musicianship and great melodies on tracks such as "Forest" and "Rivers", with only the rap of "Jijy" sounding out of place. The album closes with Karl Wallinger's title track.
Overall Big Blue Ball is an upbeat, eclectic mix of musical styles, languages, instruments and atmospheres, and a perfect model of what Peter Gabriel set out to achieve with his Real World Studios.
Worth the wait! Peter Gabriel at his best July 17, 2008
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
I heard about this project some time ago and thought it destined to never make it out of the Real World Studios. Well here it is and it's been well worth the 14 year wait. Classic Peter Gabriel with collaborators including Sinead O'Connor, Natacha Atlas and Papa Wemba.
This album is an absolute must have for both World music and Peter Gabriel fans.
Big Blue Ball - Holland June 28, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This is a real.... Realworld-Records item.
If you know the Peter Gabriel sound like the 'Us' album and the 'Secret World Live' cd then this cd bring that same feeling/vibe.
You'll hear songs sung by Peter Gabriel..but also from his RW-partners and guests like Sinead O'Conner and Tim Finn and the african (I guess) Papa Wemba, an also hearable sound from the 'Secret World Live' album.
The songs on the ablum are composed by many writers. Songs like 'Whole Thing' and 'Exit Through You' are the songs coming close to the Gabriel style. 'Shadow' is a song by the Papa Wemba band. A african style song that's really cheerfull (although they're not singing English)
The song 'Everything Comes from You' sung by Sinead O'Conner is a more Celtic/Japanese like sound with the flute in the background and the heavy drums beating through. 'A nice mix of mood and culture'
Although this cd was created in a weeks time. The project was in production for almost 18 years.
Big Blue Ball is a fine cd of differents sounds, cultures and moods.
Fans of the Gabriel sound will be satisfied of to purchase this disc
Nico Sier
Holland
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