Music review: King of Limbs by Radiohead
King of Limbs by Radiohead
Like a subtle peach – watermelon – blue fade at dusk highlighting a complex network of bare winter tree branches in the distant foreground – the music here is multifaceted work featuring many hues.
I do admit I was a bit slow on the uptake to recognize Radiohead’s general brilliance around the time OK Computer was being lauded, but since Kid A I’ve enjoyed every release they’ve graced us with (and went back and absorbed the great deluxe edition of The Bends).
This one is slight at about 37 minutes and I often cycle right through and back to the dynamic, loop filled, hypnotic first track “Bloom” while in my car. The music floats, mesmerizes and intrigues with multiple drum patterns, keyboard layers, haunting (mainly indistinguishable) vocals and some seriously heavy bass (especially on the ultra heavy trance/funk-house 4th track, “Lotus Flower”).
I find this a generally absorbing, complex work of electronica based music. Like many reviewers have said it does reward multiple listens (Now when does that triggered electro-trumpet break come in? I know I heard it before…)
As usual, great stuff from Radiohead!
-Phil
Themocracy
You must watch the video for Lotus Flower!
I think I may get the live Limbs DVD. Love these guys – nobody does it like them and live they sound amazing!
Or at least watch the Thom Yorke “Single Ladies” mashup video!
Idioteque is one my all-time FAVORITE songs. OK Computer, one of my favorite albums. Radiohead concert in October 2003, one of the best shows I’ve ever attended. It even rained during a pivotal Johnny Greenwood guitar solo. I’ll shut up now.
Are not “distant foreground” and “general brilliance” oxymorons? Ooooh, I’m ducking now because I don’t want to get hit with a bottle.
You did convince me to put a hold on this. I haven’t paid attention to Radiohead since Kid A.
Maybe, in a loose sense. It’s tricky though. The trees are in the foreground of the multihued sunset but both the hues and the trees limbs are distant! I think general brilliance is ok though.
You probably need to listen to “In Rainbows” too.
And I really really really don’t won’t anyone going over anything I write with fine tooth comb so I’ll put In Rainbows on hold too.
King of Limbs was great. It is good to see at least some rock artists aren’t afraid to be experimental, but I’m really not sure many records Radiohead sells these days. A lot of blogs I read often lament that major labels don’t release experimental rock music like they did in the 60s/70s. What I really liked where the rhythms, but the limitations of Yorke’s voice nag me a bit. These probably have equivalents with jazz in your record collection but to me it is all experimental electronic music and I was happily reminded that I have a lot Autechre and Black Dice records that have same rhythms but no mewling.
In Rainbows was a little poppy for me, but the version of “Videotape” on there is sure to be a classic, mixtape Polaris for years to come.