Four Kinds of Horses - Misplaced Pages

"Four Kinds of Horses" is a song by English musician Peter Gabriel, released in May 2023 as the fifth single in promotion of his tenth studio album I/O. The track has been described by Rolling Stone as atmospheric, swirling, and sparkling. The cover artwork was done by Cornelia Parker.

Background

The song was originally conceived when the founder of XL Recordings Richard Russell asked Peter Gabriel to make a song for his project "Everything Is Recorded". While in the studio, Gabriel came up with some chords, melodies and words on top of a groove he was working on; with the help from Russell, it would eventually become "Four Kinds of Horses".

As the track developed, a couple of things would influence the track, such as the Buddhist Parable of Four Kinds of Horses, which explain how a student can approach religious and spiritual practice. The song also shows themes of the "overlap of religion and peace on the one hand and violence and terrorism on the other." He also took further inspiration from a plot line in the film Paradise Now by Hany Abu-Assad where two characters receive training to commit a terrorist act, which also explored the mindsets of these individuals during their preparations.

The track also features Brian Eno, who worked with Gabriel on 1992's Us, composer John Metcalfe on string arrangements, and Gabriel's daughter Melanie on backing vocals.

Personnel

Peter Gabriel – vocals, backing vocals, piano, synths, rhythm programming, percussion
David Rhodes – guitars, backing vocals
Tony Levin – basses
Melanie Gabriel – backing vocals
Brian Eno – rhythm progressing, synthesizers, electric worms
Katie May – rhythm programming
Richard Russell – filtered percussion

Orchestra

Orchestral arrangement: John Metcalfe
Violins: Everton Nelson, Ian Humphries, Louisa Fuller, Charles Mutter, Cathy Thompson, Natalia Bonner, *Richard George, Marianne Haynes, Martin Burgess, Clare Hayes, Debbie Widdup, and Odile Ollagnon
Violas: Bruce White, Fiona Bonds, Peter Lale, and Rachel Roberts
Cellos: Ian Burdge, Chris Worsey, Caroline Dale, William Schofield, Tony Woollard, and Chris Allan
Double bass: Chris Laurence, Stacy Watton, and Lucy Shaw
French horn: David Pyatt
Tenor trombone: Andy Wood and Tracy Holloway
Bass trombone: Richard Henry
Tuba: David Powell
Orchestra conductor: John Metcalfe
Orchestra leader: Everton Nelson
Sheet music supervisor: Dave Foster
Orchestra contractor: Lucy Whalley and Susie Gillis

Charts

Chart performance for "Four Kinds of Horses"
Chart (2023)	Peak position
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)	65

References

Rapp, Allison (5 May 2023). "Listen to Peter Gabriel's New Song, 'Four Kinds of Horses'". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
^ Grow, Kory (5 May 2023). "Hear Peter Gabriel's New Song 'Four Kinds of Horses' Featuring Brian Eno". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
^ "Four Kinds of Horses released". PeterGabriel.com. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
BraveWords. "PETER GABRIEL Releases New Single "Four Kinds Of Horses" (Bright-Side Mix); Audio". bravewords.com. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
"Peter Gabriel Releases New Single "Four Kinds Of Horses" & Shares Tour-Rehearsal Video". Stereogum. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
Ewing, Jerry (5 May 2023). "Listen to Peter Gabriel's brooding new single Four Kinds Of Horses". Louder. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
"Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 June 2023.

v t e Peter Gabriel
Studio albums	Peter Gabriel (Car) Peter Gabriel (Scratch) Peter Gabriel (Melt) Peter Gabriel (Security) So Us Up Scratch My Back New Blood I/O
Live albums	Plays Live Plays Live Highlights Secret World Live Live Blood Back to Front: Live in London Growing Up Live
Singles	"Solsbury Hill" "Modern Love" "D.I.Y." "Games Without Frontiers" "No Self Control" "Biko" "I Don't Remember" "Shock the Monkey" "I Have the Touch" "Wallflower" "Sledgehammer" "In Your Eyes" "Don't Give Up" "Big Time" "Red Rain" "Shaking the Tree" "Digging in the Dirt" "Steam" "Blood of Eden" "Kiss That Frog" "While the Earth Sleeps" "When You're Falling" "The Barry Williams Show" "More Than This" "Growing Up "Burn You Up, Burn You Down" "Darkness" "Down to Earth" "Panopticom" "The Court" "Playing for Time" "I/O" "Four Kinds of Horses" "Road to Joy" "So Much" "Olive Tree" "Love Can Heal" "This Is Home" "And Still" "Live and Let Live"
Songs	"Here Comes the Flood" "On the Air" "Intruder" "Family Snapshot" "The Rhythm of the Heat" "San Jacinto" "That Voice Again" "Mercy Street" "We Do What We're Told (Milgram's 37)" "This is the Picture (Excellent Birds)" "Come Talk to Me" "Secret World" "Sky Blue"
Soundtracks	Birdy Passion OVO Long Walk Home
Compilations	Shaking the Tree: Sixteen Golden Greats Revisited Hit Rated PG Flotsam and Jetsam
Concert tours	Secret World Tour Back to Front Tour i/o The Tour
Films	Secret World Live Growing Up: Live Still Growing Up: Live & Unwrapped
Video games	Xplora1: Peter Gabriel's Secret World Eve Myst IV: Revelation
Other	Discography Genesis WOMAD Passion – Sources The Story of OVO Millennium Dome Show Play: The Videos Big Blue Ball And I'll Scratch Yours Real World Records Real World Studios Solid State Logic (SSL)
Peter Gabriel discography

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