*Some songs on this album are not available for individual download.
Produced by Peter Gabriel, Karl Wallinger (of World Party, Waterboys) and Stephen Hague (Pet Shop Boys, OMD), its a nonstop stream of poignant, sterling performances by a truly stellar lineup of artists-- including Gabriel, Wallinger, Sinead OConnor, Natacha Atlas, Iarla OLionaird and James McNally (both of Afro Celt Sound System), Papa Wemba, Joseph Arthur, Tanzanias late music legend Hukwe Zawose, Hungarys Marta Sebestyen, Tim Finn, Cameroonian starFrancis Bebey, Vernon Reid, Justin Adams, Jah Wobble, Billy Cobham, Rupert Hine, gospel group the Holmes Brothers, flamenco guitarist Juan Canizares, Japanese percussionist Joji Hirota, and many morein all totaling 75 artists from over 20 countries.
Big Blue Balls songs were created and recorded between 1991 and 1995, but the album has been an active work-in-progress at Real World ever since, a labor of love with ace producer Stephen Hague working closely with Peter Gabriel and Karl Wallinger. Holding the disparate elements in place is the powerful backbone of big drum tracks underpinning many of the songs. Wallinger says, Everyone was in orbit around this groove, and there is a universal language of dance, of dance grooves. That groove is the one bit thats non-denominational on the album. "Its a fine wine ready to be drunk. It was the most fun music making Ive ever had. Id love to do it again." Peter Gabriel"Its like a wall of sound coming at you, listening to the planet from outer space. Its a real world-view of music, a snapshot of the music-making continents at that time. Its a more apt time to release it now than ever before. I think its actually gathered weight with time, because its people from all over the world playing together, just getting on together. Theres an iconic aspect about that which is probably more important now. Things have become more partisan. Its a timely reminder of how you can cooperate." Karl Wallinger
