Peter Gabriel: 'I/O' The Two Mixes Compared | Which is Best?

[@scooob]

I know Barry doesn't have a surround sound audio setup, but for those of you who do (such as a home theater setup for movies, with a center speaker and rear speakers), the In-side Mix is excellent. It opens the songs up by adding an additional dimension, and you can hear individual elements that are more buried together in the stereo mixes. The In-side Mix is on a Blu-ray, packaged with the two CDs containing the Bright-side and Dark-side mixes, for a pretty reasonable price. Highly recommended for surround aficionados, or even for newcomers who have the equipment to play it.

[@NmDPlm31]

I spent an entire day listening to the Dark and Bright on repeat, but I listened to them by track, not by album. Listening to each mix of a singular track back to back to back the differences stand out more. It’s still not a huge difference, not like a standard mix and a dance mix, but you can hear things clearly. Ultimately I landed on a sequence for the album that I preferred, which contains 6 Bright side and 6 Dark side mixes. I don’t begrudge Pete for taking this route. I think it’s pretty great to hear two different producers showcase how they’d have done it. And then you have the In-Side surround mix, which is its own beast altogether. I found my preferred mix to land as follows: Bright-Side Mix for Panopticom, Playing For Time, I/O, So Much, Olive Tree, and Love Can Heal. Dark-Side Mix for The Court, Four Kinds of Horses, Road To Joy, This Is Home, And Still, Live and Let Live.

[@badgasaurus4211]

It’s a great way of making as much money as possible

[@LouiePlaysDrums]

My preference was half and half too. I posted my personally preferred mix in the comments. I also did the same thing as you when listening to the album - listening to each mix of each track individually. The differences in each mix definitely do pop out when listening to the songs this way. Enjoy the music!!!

[@james3v17]

Agreed!!!!!!!

[@mcfabb]

@@badgasaurus4211 I think That is a cynicism too far. I sincerely doubt that was at the forefront of PG’s intentions.

[@suprchickn7745]

Do we really think Peter Gabriel is low on cash???

[@LouiePlaysDrums]

For me, it was half and half. Both mixes are fantastic but for half of the songs, I preferred the Bright Side Mix and for the other half, The Dark Side Mix. I burned my own CD of the mixes I prefer for each song to make my personal definitive "i/o". Preferred Bright Side Mixes: Panopticom, i/o, Four Kinds Of Horses, Road To Joy, Olive Tree, Love Can Heal. Preferred Dark Side Mixes: The Court, Playing For Time, So Much, This Is Home, And Still, Live And Let Live.

[@mvellis3863]

Nice analysis. Although the differences are very subtle, I prefer the Dark Side mix. To my ears it sounds a little more organic and the bass is more prominent.

[@richardfitzpatrick5748]

I got bright side mix. Absolutely love it. Can’t think of a better album I have bought this year. A real gem.

[@bbchronicles736]

Love this album! For me, best album of the year, most moving, powerful, joyful. Both versions are great. I've listened to both versions a few times through now, and although I have not done a direct track-by track comparison, yes, the differences are nuanced, but very distinctly different throughout, especially when listening through headphones. I think it is great to have these different versions of the same songs. I know some are complaining about having to pay extra for both versions, but really, the combination is quite a value. I bought the 2-CD version for under $16 USD, which is only a couple dollars more than a standard single CD, but you get 2 full CDs of great music, and I think it is really worthwhile to have both versions, for those many subtle differences between them, and only make the album greater.

[@ilabelle1]

It’s a good album. However the differences are not glaringly obvious. I have both versions. It’s nice to have the choice. What does pull me in is Peter’s voice. The quality of his voice remains superb. I did notice when I saw the tour that he is unable to hit those higher notes. For example the aggressive part of Red Rain I noted that it was as if he was running out of breath. Those higher notes petered out almost into a whisper. But I certainly won’t fault Peter for that. After all he is much older. What I do like is how he has adapted his voice to suit his age. His voice is still very stirring. I suppose I’ll have to delve a little deeper into the two mixes. As it stands right now, I like both. 🤘😳🤘

[@mcfabb]

Up to now, it is 'bright side' for me, but I will explore both and the blu ray audio much more. When I was listening to Peter's full moon postings and listening to each track's version back to back,on balance I preferred the bright side mixes, though the dark side mixes did have some sensitive treatment applied to the songs, which was interesting and enriching. I think all of your review is spot on!

[@progmonster4]

I found the guitar and drums a bit more prominent on the dark side and the intricate less dominant instruments such as the horns and violins a little more noticable and the keys and synths more prominent on the bright side.. I feel you are right about his vocals being clearer and more prominent on the dark side though

[@Fatherjohn76]

Stunning album. I’m Bright Side all the way. I feel like Dark Side would work well in an audiophile set up, the separation is more pronounced and the vocal is fatter and up in the mix. Bright Side is more a nicely compressed “pop” mix for everyday listening which suits the material better imo. But the differences are not radical and they both sound pretty great

[@misterE-1989]

I like bright-side better. More lush, pollished and synth driven. Dark-side seems a bit more raw with less emphasis on the synths and more on the guitar, bass and drums.

[@grahamhowes6904]

I enjoy both mixes - I think the dark side mix makes bass and drums more prominent. I love all the orchestral work 9n the album - would love to see a whole album with PG and the New Blood orchestra with new pieces written with that in mind.

[@johnspring5689]

I like the subtle differences. I listen to both a lot, and it makes it sounding fresh a little longer having little things that you didn’t notice before it becomes one of your “I know every note of this album”, which it will(for me, at least). The inside surround mix is a different story with all the instruments and other sounds of the band much more defined. I love listening to this one…the bright and dark are very similar. The inside mix, much less so, and IMHO is the superior mix

[@herrdwabash]

On 'Playing for Time', Peter Gabriel's falsetto section is way way more prominent in the dark side mix than the bright side mix, where it is it is more ambient and distant.

[@desistindo1]

Well, this album was also released on a single CD and the mix that was chosen was the Bright-Side Mix. On the double CD, CD 1 is the Bright-Side Mix, that is, Peter Gabriel considers this mix to be the main one, so for me, this is the mix that I consider "the official one", I have listened to it frequently (and I consider this album one of his best works), so I leave the Dark mix cd as if it were a "bonus tracks", as such I listen to it from time to time

[@mcfabb]

Agreed! 🙏🏻🎶🕉

[@daicullinane7746]

Well, the Bright Side mix of Panopticom just before the vocal comes in reminds me of This is the Picture, whereas the Dark Side mix is Digging in the Dirt.

[@herrdwabash]

The only song where I have a clear preference of one mix over the other is the title track "I/O." I like the bright side mix version much better than the dark side mix version.

[@Runicen]

Listening to the Bright-Side mix exclusively to start, the thing that struck me was how disjointed the album felt. It was more like a compilation than a proper album. On my first listen to the Dark-Side mix, things cohered a lot more as an album. Overall, I think the Bright-Side mixes serve the songs better in isolation, but the Dark-Side gives them all a sonic "through line" for album listening.

[@stephanevillatte5970]

Bright side mix:less recorded tracks ,clearer,a bit more poppy,lacks essentiel parts in my opinion on some tracks Dark side mix:a more muddy affair,less clarity,but the songs seem more complete,dense sometimes a bit too much...but I go for this one.... by far to my ears they are really different

[@harryberry474]

The album having been released (finally) although it sounds great his voice is strong as it ever has been I feel a bit disengaged from what I normally am when PG releases a new album and it's mainly attributed to the way it was released "one song a month" with 2 differing mixes and I agree the differences are very subtle which left me wondering (for a year) which mix would be on the final release, now we know BOTH mixes and even a THIRD "in-side mix" normally I'll practically wear out a PG release but I just can't warm up to it as in past releases. I bought the 3 mix version I figured why not this could be his last "new music" release, so far I've only listened to the bright side mix and was pleasantly surprised how rich and full the bass is I saw the PG tour and it was just OK my 5th time seeing him throughout the years The sound just wasn't as good as past performances and his voice too was lacking....it happens when you get up there in age, but his voice on the I/O album is superb. This album with all thee mixes is going to take me a long time to have the will to sit down and listen to critically. One more complaint NO Lyric Sheet with this release! He does have every single persons name listed who had anything to do with the making of this recording though instead of lyrics for the songs...it reads like the credits at the end of a blockbuster movie, only important to those people named.

[@happyfrenchharping3157]

No lyrics ? Gosh ! What a pity.

[@MrGrassysound]

The liner notes indicate that the official lyrics are available on his website.

[@harryberry474]

​@@MrGrassysound Yes I know but when I listen to a song I don't necessarily want to be sitting in front of a computer screen, I'm trying to figure out a good way to copy and print out the lyrics for my personal use. I always have tried to read the lyrics while listening to a new record until I've got the lyrics memorized knowing the lyrics makes the songs much much more meaningful.

[@rk41gator]

I have been wondering what the two mixes were all about. I had troubles discerning them. Thanks. Gabriel is simply brilliant. A 'prog Cheshire Cat' is a wonderful metaphor for him!

[@filosphere]

Nice report, thanks! I'll say I prefer the dark side, I prefer the bass.

[@NigelSmith66]

I am a big Peter Gabriel fan, both with Genesis and during his solo career. I have not bought "i/o" yet but will listen to both mixes on Spotify. Your assertion that the differences between the "bright side" and "dark side" mixes are generally minimal just adds to my annoyance that PG wants us to pay a double CD price for, to all intents and purposes, 2 copies of the same album. I shall decide which mix I prefer after a few listens and then pray that single CD versions of each mix will eventually be sold separately for typical single CD prices.

[@PaulGertz]

Is 17€ too much for a newly released album? I personally think it's a very regular price, or even cheap for a 2 CDs album.

[@NigelSmith66]

We are currently living through a cost of LOCKDOWN crisis in the UK. I cannot speak for you Mr. Gertz, but I am not especially well off financially. Back in vinyl's 70s hey day, double albums were NEVER double the price of single albums. I expect to pay between £10 and £12 for a new single CD, so £17 for a (pseudo) double is arguably good value. But it is TOO much for me, especially when the CDs are just different mixes. Maybe I will reassess after hearing them. But please do not assume that what is affordable for you is affordable for all.

[@PaulGertz]

@@NigelSmith66 I don't think I've assumed anything as I think I wrote "personally". I wasn't born in the 70s, so I can't say. CDs weren't born either though. For sure I guess albums in general are now more expensive than in the 70s. All I was saying is that I regularly see newly released regular single CD albums between 15 and 20€. So I thought that 17€ (euros, not pounds) was pretty standard, and even quite cheap for a 2 CDs album. Although you're right, this can't be considered as a real double album. Back to i/o and the 2 mixes. I've followed the songs releases each month during 2023, and I've ended up preferring clearly one of the two mixes for most of the songs. I guess if there was just one mix, I wouldn't have this issue to prefer anything. But in the end, my best i/o is 50% dark, 50% bright. Listening to the physical release now, it's kind of fun to rediscover mixes I've forgotten. For some songs, they are complementary, and I end up dreaming of the perfect mix of the 2 mixes :) I'll be frustrated to only have one mix to listen to now. Anyway, I hope you will like i/o, I think PG has released a very strong album. Happy listening, whether dark or bright, or a bit of both :)

[@NigelSmith66]

​@@PaulGertz The obvious (to me) solution would be to sell the "bright side mix" as a standalone single CD for, say, £12, likewise for the "dark side mix" and both mixes as a double CD for, say, £17. I believe in consumer choice and this would presumably keep everybody happy, apart from maybe PG and his bank manager! 😁😉 Whatever, happy listening. 😊

[@jimcouch7477]

This may well be the best album I got this year. I have listened to it a fair amount and am currently slightly leaning toward the dark side mix. On my system with my old man ears it just a little clearer and cleaner. In particular while the vocals seem to be moved back a bit in the mix they also seem cleaner and clearer. Still need some listening to both before I can really decide which I think is better. This is a wonderful album and both mixes are spectacular although, as you mentioned, the differences are subtle.

[@joebuchler]

Bright Side for me…but only slightly. I didn’t get the inside mix, and am wondering how that mix differs from the other 2? A bit of overkill i suppose. That being said THIS IS A FANTASTIC ALBUM!!!

[@newsles2]

Personally I love the Tchad Blake mixes the most but the Bright Side ones have their positives too. I really do feel though that he should have made one definitive album featuring his favourites of the two main mixes while releasing Dark and Bright side albums alongside as completist extras. It feels somehow to be missing that definitive sense of the artist having signed off on a final 'product' (*shudders) because of that. At least for me.

[@newsles2]

On a personal note I love the Dark Side version of The Court especially. When we saw him back in October I was delighted that the live version reproduced that spine-tingling, 'full', almost Clannad-esque "And the Court, will rise" part that is noticeably absent on the Stent version.

[@jonthebru]

Once I heard about his full moon releases I've been following the videos. i/o is a remarkable piece of work. Live And Let Live is quite different between the two mixes.

[@gerardfletcher1203]

im getting. them both on cd. im rediscvering his music. great review ps ur clection of t shirts is awesome have a great christmas cheers from oz

[@ThePopShopStudio]

There's no reason to determine which is best. The three mixes are deliberately different. It's not a competition.

[@ianemery4355]

Love the OCD for the album name! Yep I ordered the 3 disc set but its typical Peter Gabriel!

[@danielpalmersofficial]

Both mixes are great, what an album this is and a PG masterpiece!! 😁👍

[@flavormod]

Much prefer the surround, In-side Mix over both of these stereo mixes as it pierces the many needlessly blanketed layers of bass, programming and synths that otherwise suck too much life from these songs. Having said that, fully expect, as ever, any live document will far surpass the surround miix also. PG truly shines live, when his songs are allowed to breathe, more stripped down and unsterilized.

[@richardfitzpatrick5748]

I’m quite surprised you say the differences are minimal. I am sure a lot of fans bought both. Surely having a big difference would have been better for fans doing that. I. Am glad I just got the bright side mix

[@larrysmith5249]

Honestly, I can’t tell the difference. I felt like I listened to the same version twice.

[@frugalseverin2282]

I'd have preferred that he just release 1 definitive mix of the album. Why leave it to other producers, how is he happy with this unless he couldn't decide for himself? I liked "Us" but "Up" didn't leave much impression on me.

[@ethelip5239]

Man, I thought we were gonna get 2 vastly different versions, a la Steam vs Quiet Steam, or even Blood of Eden vs Wim Wenders mix.. These are so similar, it’s embarrassing that they’re on separate CDs..

[@stevewhiteside4525]

We're lucky enough to still have an HMV shop in Bournemouth. I was there yesterday and they had i/o 2 CD version for £18 and I'm afraid all I could think was well I've bought all your proper studio albums up to So twice - on vinyl and then on CD, same with Plays Live, bought your proper studio albums since then and OVO on CD, I've been to see you in concert, and now you want me to shell out £18 for the same album twice. No thanks. As a friend and fellow music fan said, I thought the whole point of an artist was to pick the right tracks for the album, get the right sequence and get the right mix, production etc. for each track. And it sounds like the difference isn't that great. It's really not far removed from those albums with a pointless instrumental only mix. And it's not like UP was that great. Oh, and bought New Blood as well. Release one mix and make the other a free download for those who buy the album and can be bothered with it. And are we going to get multiple Steven Wilson remixes in a few years. I can see why the surround mix for those who are into that. And is it going to be like The Harmony Codex - I paid £11.99 for it in HMV when it came out and yesterday it was £8.99. Disengage rant mode, but FFS!

[@IvanMusicMan]

The mixes are so close, but i think the dark mix is the best, but i like bouth , buy them all 😍

[@existentialmeltdown]

Very apt, to describe Peter Gabriel as a huge prog-Cheshire cat. Now, if he were as savvy Kiss he could market a fluffy toy version of himself.

[@deanwolfechannel]

I'll go for the dark mix then

[@noelmurray1]

Still no review of Blu-ray Atmos multi-channel mix?

[@classicalbum]

I don't have the ability to play this

[@alanfranklin766]

Should be better not best. Best requires 3 or more things.

[@MichaelSmith-jz7xg]

There’s too much compression on the Dark Side mix and Road to Joy is vastly different. Bright Side mix wins in my book!

[@madhouze1]

On my I-Tunes account, the only version of this album available has both both mixes (24 tracks) and costs twice as much as a single album. There is no option to purchase just a single album. I could of course purchase 12 songs individually but this would still cost 50% more than a single album. Seems like a rip-off to me - I don't need 2 subtly different versions of the same song. Needless to say I won't be buying this from I-Tunes.

[@mikedibrango1064]

Which is the better mix for more bass?

[@dirtydeadasheville]

Sad to report I've not been very excited about this new PG material. As a very long time fan of his, it's difficult. Much of it seems to me just too meditative. I have yet to hear the last three tracks or so, but it seems like the generational divide between myself and him is coming to bear. His wonderful past piano driven work like "Father Son" and "Here Comes the Flood" always bring me to tears - just as "So Much" did, but maybe in ten years this will hit me harder. UP worked so well for me because of the sonic experiment each tune embraced, whereas here I find the slow tempos just a bit too laborious for me to get through. Also was hoping the "darker" mixes somehow meant more menacing or dangerous, which they aren't. Thanks for your work sir!

[@jonathanmurrell5801]

I couldn’t agree more! I

[@robm3569]

I have the new Peter Gabriel album but it's called the "in-side mix"...? Do I have a third mix? Whichever it is, I'm really enjoying it.

[@johnspring5689]

Yes, you do have a different mix. This is the surround sound mix. It is the best sounding in my opinion if you have a system that can do the full surround.

[@robm3569]

@@johnspring5689 Thanks for the heads-up. Oddly enough, my car has an 8 speaker surround sound system, perhaps I'll have to go for a long drive. Meanwhile, even listening through my two speaker system I have it EQ'd pretty well.

[@ArmandoMPR]

Not much of difference, really. Only on a couple of tracks, such as Panopticom, The Court, and Four Kinds of Horses, for which I preferred the Dark Side Mix. So, because of that I’d choose that mix.

[@63mckenzie]

I definitely gravitate towards the dark side mixes.

[@classicalbum]

My preference is more for the bright side mixes, although there's not much between them

[@63mckenzie]

@@classicalbum Both mixes are great. Maybe I prefer the dark mixes because I'm a dour Scot! 😄

[@buzzbabyjesus]

The "Dark" mix sounds more vintage.

[@gideonlapidus8996]

the 2nd mix is better

[@judsonleach5248]

Permission to "Speak Freely:, Sir?! Next time?! - Compare the VINYL !! 🙂 $1,000 Technics turntable with the "moon rock" needle option here! lol 🙂

[@luckykat08]

Two mixes that sound almost exactly the same...Gabriel should have called this album "OCD".

[@classicalbum]

They are very similar

[@RoryHennessy]

Totally agree I have a hi end set up and thought I had been sent 2 cds the same!,

[@james3v17]

Y'all are literally tripping, most of the bright songs are much better than the dark mixes... There are many many differences!!!! If you were expecting a second album of remixes just say so! 😂

[@robprice8509]

The DS mix strikes me as less uniform, a bit edgier, and tends to “throwback” to some of the textures of earlier, “Melt”/“Security” projects.

[@TheErrorerrorerrorer]

@@RoryHennessyI think your set up may be wasted on you

[@davidtellett179]

Huge prog Cheshire Cat 😂

[@thechronicnoizeco.6675]

It’s a very good album despite the 2 different mixes. I suppose he could have picked them for us but why not release 3 different mixes?

[@walterevans5658]

Dark Side.

[@PierreDybman]

The dark side is not dark enough. This looks like a wasted opportunity to release two really different mixes

[@ethelip5239]

There were certainly more different mixes on many of his songs from the past. This almost seems like a joke..

[@rael2099]

This must be one of the most bizarre failures of delivering an interesting concept. The virtue of releasing 2 different mixes is that they HAD to sound distinct from one another by definition. That the differences are subtle and nuanced doesn't convince me to purchase either, when I was initially thinking about purchasing both. Now add the other remix in the digital format. My goodness, what a botched project.

[@craigherriot4026]

I agree wholeheartedly.

[@NFStamper]

It was a swing and a miss, making them only subtly different.

[@kleemusic546]

Sadly, to these ears this is PGs retirement ante-room album. It's real song by numbers stuff, where the production swamps any idea of a song. Yes, it sounds lovely, but lacks any real substance. Where it does succeed is easing you into the Land Of Nod when your sub-conscious is unwilling to let go of the remains of the day.

[@sfglim5341]

He released 3 mixes, not two

[@classicalbum]

I only have two

[@greggorup1006]

Love Peter Gabriel but I have no interest in his new music.

[@patrickbarry6273]

Gotta tell ya, you might wanna give Playing for Time, i/o and the Court a shot....and I'm no PG fanboy at all.

[@framundajohnson2186]

anyone with an ear and brain can hear and feel the huge mix differences on each track.