Kid A’s defining moment as an album comes in the form of the futuristic sound of synthesised beats, electronic drums and Thom Yorke’s infamous vocals, combined in perfect symmetry in the song that is Idioteque. This for me is the very essence of Radiohead; a cutting edge track in the form of samples, computer wizzard-ry and the combined effort of both Jonny Greenwood and Yorke.
Whilst the lyrics allude to the theme of an ‘apocalypse’ the forward thinking electronic sounds seems to undermine this and suggest hope, this juxtaposition of music and lyrics in such a way help to create the dimension and atmosphere in which Radiohead inhabit, one which to those observers on the ‘outside’ without true understanding would simply brand as ‘depressing’.
The song works as a centre point to Kid A, (the album to which pitchfork recent crowned album of the decade) in more ways than one. The visual imagery Yorke’s lyrics impose seem to be intrinsically linked if not paralleled in Stanley Downwood’s beautifully bleak album artwork.
This for me is one of, if not Radiohead’s most perfect songs, his vocal line; ‘Here I’m allowed everything all of the time’ is so beautifully alluring and non specific that it could be interpreted in a thousand different ways. My favourite interpretation would be the idea Yorke recognises the fundamental importance of expression through art, and in doing so the bleak landscape he details and his wish to save the ‘women and children first’ is a bid to ensure the legacy of art, music, you name it continues for ever and ever. This ability to evoke such deep and powerful meaning coupled with the engaging sound of the future is why I believe this to be one of the greatest tracks of the decade.
One of the most awaited gigs of the year on merit of its sheer “wtf?” factor (which isn’t really warranted due to the fact that Flea is actually a very accomplished and diverse bass player), ended up providing hundreds in LA with an insight into the newly-furnished thoughts in Thom Yorke’s mind. The likes of ‘Lotus Flower’ and ‘Judge, Jury, Executioner’ will all find their way out somehow in the near future and it will be exciting to hear such songs in full recorded glory.
But the most exciting moment for me that I found on the bootleg of the show at the Echoplex was the performance of ‘Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses’ with newly acquired band-mates, Nigel Godrich, Joey Waronker, Flea & Mauro Refosco. Made more audacious and less claustrophobic than the recorded version, it was a lively closer to the show.
The double a-side ‘Feeling Pulled Apart By Horses’ hits online this week, and people should have every reason to feel excited. With any Radiohead/Yorkie release, you can expect the unexpected, and it’s with some suspense when you finally press that play button, allowing yourself to be prepared for anything.
‘The Hollow Earth’ accompanies the title-track and it’s perhaps the more predictable of the two; crafted from a jerky, rapid beat akin to the one on ‘Jetstream’, a previous Yorke b-side, whilst the singer takes the lead – in contrast to his appearance on ‘These Are My Twisted Words’ – with pitch-perfect high notes and some mutated, reverb-soaked backing vocals from the same man. It’s very much something that could have appeared on ‘The Eraser’, colliding beauty with twisted intelligence.
In some form or another, Radiohead will be releasing the song above later on this month (September 21st). It’s a version recorded just by Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood so might lack the fierceness and audacity of the version above. But don’t rule anything out.
Our guess is it’ll sound much more like a version played in 2004 at a Trade Justice benefit. Under the name ‘Reckoner’ (but completely opposite in sound to ‘In Rainbows” version), it includes turns of phrase such as “lame-shite excuses” and “GIMME FRENCH FRIES OR I’LL SUMMON THE RECKONER”.
TRACK REVIEW: Radiohead – These Are My Twisted Words
words: Jamie Milton
Forget the origin, forget the calculations, forget the story. You hadn’t heard this Radiohead song until today. No matter who you were, regardless of how long this has been around, this is all new to you. Consider it an Amnesiac companion, consider it a fitting addition to the Twilight sequel’s soundtrack, it’s the most disfigured, out of sync and out of nature song Radiohead have emerged with in the last 8 years.
An unconventionally built gathering of rushing drums and delay-ridden guitar patterns collapse before eventually, Yorke emerges from underneath: “I just can’t handle it” he confesses, just as the accompanying music begins to maintain its pace and order. It’s a purposefully tired-sounding, drawn out piece of experimentation. Not the kind of experiment to make your eyes squirm and your head tilt, more the kind of experiment which, with repeated listens, you find yourself sharing an outlook with.
All mp3s posted on Music Fan's Mic are posted after gaining the relevant permission.
Jamie Milton began Music Fan's Mic in 2006 as a means of publishing and collecting his reviews for other publications. Since then both Milton and Gareth O'Malley are co-running the blog and posting the best new music on a regular basis.
Boom-box-in':
Yeasayer - Odd Blood LP
Final Fantasy Heartland LP
Beach House - Teen Dream LP
These New Puritans - We Want War
Gigi - The Old Graveyard
jj - The xx Intro
Toro Y Moi - Causers of This LP
Liars - Sisterworld LP
Vampire Weekend - White Sky
Los Campesinos! - In Medias Res
MFM @ HYPEM
