With the release of "A Moon Shaped Pool" on May 8, Radiohead has made another notable addition to their already prestigious discography. The record not only displays their adept ability at mixing traditional instrumentation with electronic soundscapes, but also lead singer Thom Yorke's most emotional set of lyrics to date. The increased influence of guitarist Jonny Greenwood's talent as a film composer also adds an extra layer of depth not present on any previous Radiohead records.
In classic Radiohead fashion, the band opens A Moon Shaped Pool with a sense of unease directed toward modern life. The first single, Burn the Witch, originally written in 2000, features lyrics deriding groupthink and music which explores that sentiment. A modernist string arrangement brings life to lyrics like "this is a low flying panic attack," while the electronic drums add an almost danceable quality to the track that sets the tone for the rest of album.
Daydreaming, the second single, is an ambient track driven by a soothing piano and spare orchestral sweeps. The core themes of losing love and finding peace in a new identity start to surface here as well. Having recently divorced his partner of 23 years, Yorke uses this track to comment on his inner turmoil. Nowhere is this more evident than in the last minute of the song where he sings "half of my life/half of my love" through reversed vocals. This seems to imply that Yorke literally wants to reverse his life just as the song reverses itself.
Drummer Phil Selway, bassist Colin Greenwood and guitarist Ed O'Brian round out the rhythm section by giving Yorke and Greenwood a rock solid foundation to experiment over. The eccentric rhythms are always a welcome sign on any Radiohead album since they give every song its own distinct feel. Their last album, "The King of Limbs," was a relatively sedate affair that found them turning away from the loose structure they developed for "In Rainbows." Here they combine both somber melodies and groovy rhythms to fine tune a decade's worth of musical exploration.
For a band as intent on making music reflecting the deep seated anxieties that can plague people in the 21st century, the biggest surprise of "A Moon Shaped Pool" is that it finds Radiohead in a peaceful mode. They have recorded plenty of calm music in the past (No Surprises, Pyramid Song, Nude), but until now their version of calm has always been tinged with distrust and paranoia. Gone are the nefarious Talk Show Hosts and big fish eating the little ones. In their place are feelings of being “totally alive," and looking at the despair of the past as “just a laugh."
What did you think of "A Moon Shaped Pool?"
