Often considered the most artistic band in the world, Radiohead, fronted by artist Thom Yorke, is back in the spotlight with its new album, A Moon Shaped Pool. The record, their ninth studio title, was announced by the band in its own unique way.
Often considered the most artistic band in the world, Radiohead, fronted by artist Thom Yorke, is back in the spotlight with its new album, A Moon Shaped Pool. The record, their ninth studio title, was announced by the band in its own unique way. First came the ominous single, ‘Burn the Witch’ which was followed up by second tune, ‘Daydreaming’. After 2011’s King of Limbs, which received a lukewarm response, the music group has resurfaced together with a new album that is easily one of their finest. Though the record is available on digital platforms like Apple Music and Tidal, it is deliberately missing on Spotify, thanks to Yorke’s well-known dislike for the streaming site. In 2013, Yorke pulled his other band, Atoms for Peace’ music from the site, noting that “new artists get paid f*** all with this model”.
As for the response to the record, critics seem to be pleased with it. Rolling Stone noted in its review that “Pool’s most thrilling surprise isn’t its Mother’s Day release, but that Radiohead’s least rock-oriented album in the 21st century doubles as its most gorgeous and desolate album to date” while the Chicago Tribune, giving the record 3 out of 4 stars reflected, “In a world of hurt, the moon-shaped pool is an illusion, but it doesn’t prevent us from dreaming about what lies beyond it.”
The timing of the release of the album is also very curious. Ahead of the band releasing two singles and the record, they scrubbed their social media presence and continued on their chosen path of experimentation that includes desolate sonic structures, social awareness as well as anxieties faced in the real world. While American music names like Beyonce and Drake have created quite a ripple with their new records, it’s Radiohead who have truly managed to transcend expectations with this new album that deals with beauty, loss, war and uses technology in an impeccable fashion. Look out for it online while the physical edition including Vinyls will make their way around later in the summer.
