Peter Gabriel hasn’t released much original music in well over a decade, since 2002’s Up, with the exception of the song “Down to Earth,” which he penned for the WALL-E soundtrack in 2008, as well as most recently debuting “O But” early on during his Front to Back tour. The singer decided to break out another new tune, the piano ballad “What Lies Ahead” in Turin, Italy on Thursday night. He also played the song again the following night in Bologna, Italy. 

Does this mean that Gabriel has a new album in the works, or that he might actually be nearing the release of I/O, the album that has been discussed since the mid-90’s, when he supposedly had over 150 songs written in various stages? In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, the progressive rock musician discussed new music:

“I’m trying to do some happy stuff. Even now. ‘Cause it’s very easy for me to fall into some moody stuff. I wanna do something that’s more dance-y, and more like an organic dance record. I’ve got a couple of songs I’ve been working on the last two weeks that I think are beginning to go in that direction.”

The video, filmed by Nik Chanel, shows Gabriel speaking to the audience in Italian before playing the lamenting ballad, which features beautiful cello work. 

[via Rolling Stone]