RADIOHEAD
*A Moon Shaped Pool*
(XL Recordings)
“This is a low-flying panic attack,” singer Thom Yorke warns early on “Burn The Witch,” the opening track on Radiohead’s latest beguiling work. Indeed, the electronic beats and stringed instruments build to a crescendo of Hitchcockian “Psycho” proportions. Yorke’s laconic delivery belies the melancholy emotional undercurrent present on every good Radiohead composition. The video for the song takes this to the next level with a claymation riff on the British “Wicker Man” mystery/horror legend. Shape-shifting music modes abound on the album: Piano carries "Glass Eyes" and “Daydreaming,” which amounts to a soothing lullaby and ends with deep breathing effects, bordering on snoring. The English band’s subtle style makes its Lollapalooza headlining gig (July 29, 2016 in Chicago’s Grant Park) a head-scratcher, but fans should look forward to “Deck’s Dark,” a slinky uptempo song with stark guitar and drum interplay. “Ful Stop” is the liveliest song featuring a driving bass line and the oft-repeated, ominous line: “You really messed up everything.” Maybe you have, but Radiohead keeps getting it right.
9/10
No comments:
Post a Comment