So

Inspired by the possibilities of digital technology and the audacious rhythms of Brazil and Africa, Peter Gabriel invigorated pop music with 1986’s So. “Sledgehammer” is a James Brown groove reinforced with juicy synths and hard-hitting drum machines. While that song highlights Gabriel’s most soulful singing, his husky voice materializes like a beam of light through the roiling pulses of “Red Rain.” The dueling currents of tension and comfort merge on “In Your Eyes,” a love song so pure in its intentions that its intricate machinery becomes almost invisible.