The hype around Radiohead is truly huge, as one can tell from the instant reviews written in the half hour after download of the mp3 release. I feel after 2 days digestion I’m only just poised to write even the smallest of insight..
Hailing from Oxford and all the cliquey nature that sometimes entails, Radiohead seem to adopt an approach which suggests: We’re just as ‘clever’ as you and look what we can do.. dribble down a microphone, throw our drumsticks about and have a fit onstage. In the video to Lotus Flower, one of the album’s leading tracks, Thom’s eccentric dancing reminds us that craziness, abnormality, and difference are indeed beauty. Phil Selway’s clumsy intelligent rhythmic diversity and the lyrical links to nature also highlight how right they are.
Building on the juxtaposition of scattered beats, cut up instrumental loops and piano samples, topped over with Thom’s saliva-induced perfection of intimacy, and wailing in his vocal delivery. What In Rainbows and Thom’s solo work started this album continues. There is an energy which at points has every element of chaos, and yet somehow manages to project as relaxing. There are no catchy sing-alongs, few instrumental hooks or indeed any choruses, but presumably this wasn’t intended anyway and as a whole the album flows in its messed up natural soundscape. I therefore refrain from giving a track by track analysis. In fact the token commercial guitar track being left out altogether works in the album’s favour. The King of Limbs finishes with an amazing simplicity which highlights Johnny Greenwood’s genius as a melodic guitar arranger. Radiohead have obviously built up the attention span of their existing fans, and taken them to new musical realms yet again. Good work guys!
Trev Williams
20.2.11
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