Scheduled Relase Date: 18th February 2011 Self Relased
Radiohead are quite the curious bunch. After releasing the pay-what-you-like album In Rainbows, they slowly faded into the background, whilst once in a blue moon, releasing small sparks and teasers at what the band had been up to, with the Bends-esque "These Are My Twisted Words" and the mournful ballad of "Harry Patch", followers were keeping a keen eye on these intriguing happenings. About a year later, out of absolutely nowhere, the band popped up to explain that their newest album "The Kings Of Limbs", was finished and would be released within a week. I don't think i'm alone when I say, it was one of the longest weeks of my existence. After what felt like years, the record was available to those who had purchased it, through a download link. So, now i've explained the slightly chaotic backstory, let's get on with the album itself.
Upon my first listen, one thing seemed to stick out like a sore thumb; this record was very short, clocking in with 8 tracks that equalled just over 30 minutes. The album went in and out before I could even comprehend what I had just listened to. If i'm going to say anything, I will say this: this record needs more than one listen, maybe even three at the most, before you can even start criticizing. I admit, tracks such as "Morning Mr. Magpie", "Lotus Flower" and "Codex" caught my ears upon my first several listens, they had all the ingredients of a Radiohead anthem: Thom's swooning falsetto, hypnotic but simple drum loops and slow, drearing sounds as found on the digital heavy Kid A and Amnesiac.
But then there were the apparant cacophonies of "Bloom" and the glitchy noise-fest "Feral" which made me think of the ethereal sounds of Burial and Flying Lotus. This record really has a hard time in deciding what it wants to be. There are very few efforts of Jonny's guitar or even Colin's smooth but simple basslines, although "Morning Mr. Magpie" has such a great repititive line that sticks in your head and stays there. After several listens, I started to actually dive into individual tracks. I noticed the sheer intricate details of percussion in "Bloom", the sounds almost feels like you're riding in a train carriage, with the slow bumps and bangs against the tracks. I noticed behind the shaky sounds of "Feral" laid over the sweet undecipherable whispers of Thom and the atmospheric soundscapes that create the image of a surburban rush hour. I noticed the remarkable use of the trombone about halfway through "Codex", as if the track wasn't already a magnificient piece of music, the track puts you in a state of sleep, almost as if comatose. As I say, the album isn't without it's faults. "Little By Little" and "Give Up The Ghost" are mediocre at best in addition to the higher points in the album.
The King Of Limbs is a maze of a record, but once you're able to navigate it, you'll be sure to understand the hidden beauty within, even if it is Radiohead's most non-Radiohead release, it still sits atop the throne as one of the most innovative and brave albums of this year.
9/10
Thomas Eccles
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