New Radiohead & Thom Yorke Songs 2009
Harry Patch (In Memory Of), These Are My Twisted Words & 12” Single
Sep 6, 2009
Since treating the world to an unexpected October surprise back in 2007 with the online, pay-what-you-want release of the infallible In Rainbows, Radiohead have been quiet on the album front.
Two years after that release, two new Radiohead songs, “Harry Patch (In Memory Of)” & “These Are My Twisted Words” have appeared on the band’s website without any word on a full length album.
When their contract with EMI expired in 2003, Radiohead became disenchanted with the record industry and consequently took matters into their own hands. Now they seem to have also lost interest in the dying album format.
Despite having released two of the best concept albums of their generation, OK Computer and Kid A, Radiohead now look intent on releasing new material one song at a time.
Harry Patch (In Memory Of)
The first of the new Radiohead singles appeared on the band’s website on August 5, 2009. “Harry Patch (In Memory Of)” was released following the death of the UK's last remaining veteran of World War 1, Harry Patch, who passed away at the age of 111.
Recorded a few weeks after his death and based on a radio interview Patch did a few years prior that had a “profound effect” on Yorke, the sombre, slow moving and string-laden track appeared on the band’s website as a digital download suddenly and without ceremony, the proceeds of which go to the British Legion.
Dark and reflective, the track is a statement about the evils of war and how all involved leave that experience as victims. “Give your leaders each a gun and then let them fight it out themselves / I've seen devils coming up from the ground / I've seen hell upon this earth,” Yorke sings on this haunting and uncharacteristic Radiohead track.
These Are My Twisted Words
Twelve days later, on August 17, another new Radiohead track appeared on the band’s website after an internet leak. “These Are My Twisted Words” came with the promise of a pending EP, but eventually that never appeared.
Contrary to “Harry Patch (In Memory Of)”, “These Are My Twisted Words” sounds more like the Radiohead of late with an extended intro mixing rock and electronica fuelled by Thom Yorke’s unmistakable falsetto and incomprehensible lyrics.
Of the songs, lead guitarist Jonny Greenwood writes “We've been recording for a while, and this was one of the first we finished. We're pretty proud of it.”
While both songs are whole unto themselves, they do nothing to solidify Radiohead’s reputation as one of the most experimental bands in the world - that was the job of Kid A, Amnesiac and OK Computer - nor do they indicate the direction a possible new album could take.
New Thom Yorke 12” Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses/ The Hollow Earth
While both songs are drips of Radiohead’s creativity, they’ll soon be joined by the 12inch release of “Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses” and “The Hollow Earth” on September 21, followed on October 6 by the digital release.
Officially credited to Thom Yorke, “these days it’s all getting kind of blurry,” he writes on the band’s website.
“Feeling Pulled Apart by Horses is written & played by Jonny and I,” Yorke adds “and is a radical rework of an old tune thats been kicking around without a home since 2001? i think. The Hollow Earth is a bass menace that was born out of the Eraser period but needed a little more time.”
Both tracks were produced by Nigel Godrich and mastered by Bob Ludwig.
Yorke also provides his take on “All for the Best" for the tribute album Ciao My Shining Star: The Songs of Mark Mulcahy due September 29, 2009.
New Radiohead Album?
Perhaps Radiohead has done away with releasing albums all together, or maybe they plan to release an album of material one song at a time. Perhaps this time around their innovation lies in their simplicity.
Though “These Are My Twisted Words” and “Harry Patch (In Memory Of)” aren’t the best songs Radiohead have recorded in their fruitful career, any new product from the band that has had such an immense influence on rock and electronic music is welcome.
“Harry Patch (In Memory Of)” and “These Are My Twisted Words” are available as downloads from Radiohead’s official website.
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