King of Limbs – The First Listen

Oblique album title: check

Fractious reports from album sessions: check

Unexpected album release: check

It can only mean one thing: a new Radiohead album. Just 6 months after reports that the past years worth of work may be scrapped, on a cold dank February morning we are greeted with a Radiohead album a day early, _King of Limbs_.

_Limbs_ kicks off in moody, and atmospheric style with **‘Bloom’**. An opener, which meets us with what is perhaps the trademark of Radiohead’s current output: fluttering, fleeting and arresting electronic riffs, more ’15 Step’ than ‘Airbag’. The riffs quickly collide with popping firework drums and Thom Yorke’s best creepy doctor impression: as he commands terrifyingly amongst a shimmering jungle-esque soundscape: “open your mouth wide/ a universal sigh”. These disjointed anaesthetised semi-intimidating images dominate _King of Limbs_. Yorke is quite correct however, the over all mood, of ‘Bloom’ is a long breathy sigh. The song is devoid of climax or chorus, dominated by softly wailed lyrics and somewhat psychedelic moods tied down by an insistent drumbeat.

**‘Morning Mr Magpie’**, however bursts forth with frenetic guitar, appearing to grab the album by the scruff of the neck after the impressionistic opener. Yorke moves from passive aggressive, to incensed as he charges a haunting Poe-ian magpie: “you stole it/give it back!”. Dark guitar licks build intricately over the top, complimented by paranoid atmospheric electronic moods, as Yorke continues his rant to his magpie tormenter “you know you should/but you don’t”. The song ends seeming to wear itself out with the sheer mania of the mood set by the music that churns underneath.

The attack on‘Magpie’ is followed by a slinky cut: **‘Little By Little’**: chaotic drums combine with an ‘I Might Be Wrong’ esque guitar line and breathless sensualising, as Yorke declares amongst the paranoid haze that permeates _King of Limbs_, “Little by little/ by hook or by crook/I’m such a tease and you’re such a flirt”. Never thought that of Yorke I’ve gotta say!

‘Little By Little’ fades out into the electronic experiment **‘Feral’**, a squirming bassline and electronic shots build into yet another intimidating soundscape. However, the music betrays: the song itself rather than ‘Feral’, sounds overwrought and calculated in its intimidation. Feral’s dark ambient structure once more denies the listener, anything much to attach themselves.

The much performed **‘Lotus Flower’** is the first and only concession on _Limbs_ to a more conventional song structure. ‘Lotus Flower’ is also the first time in the album, which Radiohead really connect with the listener. The song is kicked off by a deep shot from the bass drum which forces its way into your very core. It is a twisted love song, that allows Radiohead to prove once again that no band could ever match them on that count. Following the resounding thud and built mood, Yorke croons weirdly: “I will shape myself to your pocket/invisible, do what you want”. The song breaks down into a deep soulful chorus where Yorke declares in self contradicting way: “there’s an empty space inside my heart where the weeds grow / I’ll set you free”. The engaging and emotive music pitched behind Yorke’s croon however, like Radiohead can at their best brings some sense into these seemingly insane emotions. ‘Lotus Flower’ seems to take up where ‘House of Cards’ left off as Yorke’s lusting intensifies, focusing on a subject to whom this fragmented soul groove seems dedicated. All of which means ‘Lotus Flower’ is a fascinating and unusual love song, that reinjects the tangible into _Limbs_. It’s very welcome.

A spare piano follows, announcing **‘Codex’** onto _Limbs_. ‘Codex’ continues the affecting mood laid down by ‘Lotus Flower’. It is as though a comedown from the twisted lovelorn heights of the previous song. A minor key gutwrencher in the veign of ‘How To Disappear Completely’ or ‘Videotape’. On ‘Codex’ instrumentation is second to melody, unsual in this atmospherics lead record; making for ‘Codex’ to be not only one of the best songs on Limbs, but also one of Radiohead’s most affecting songs altogether.

Static feeds into a pastoral British blues redemptive ballad **‘Give Up the Ghost’**. This track is unlike anything Radiohead have produced before. The title is ironic within the context of the labrinyth like album; ‘Ghost’ gives way to a touchingly fragile call and answer couplet. Acoustic strums breeze through and permeate a stunning vocal performance. This is the most defiant and hopeful track on the album as the music seems plays out Yorke’s longing perfectly.

All before, the album is closed with psychedelic fade in fade out vocals on **‘Seperator’**, a track like a few others on _Limbs_ such as ‘Bloom’ or ‘Little by Little’ that wouldn’t sound out of place amongst the most psychedelic or sitar inflected numbers on _Rubber Soul_ or _Revolver_. As Yorke croons “its like I’ve fallen out of bed from all the new imagery/wake me up”.

**Conclusion:**

Y’know what Yorke may round this album off the best. _King of Limbs_, on first impressions is Radiohead as we have rarely heard them before. This is them at their most uncompromising, artistic, and visionary. However in amongst all the hazy jungle ambience, there is very little to attach ourselves to. The instrumentation and musicianship on _King of Limbs_ is undoubtedly inventive and in many ways path-breaking. However in amongst all the scenes set, there’s very little that’s human; there’s very little Jonny Greenwood. _King of Limbs_, is at its best, not when its most conventional, but when its most relatable as on ‘Lotus Flower’ or ‘Give Up the Ghost’ though more conventional songs, they are still from you’re average verse/chorus/verse. Radiohead’s free form side can and does work, we need only look to ‘National Anthem’, or ‘Like Spinning Plates’. However _King of Limbs_ from my first impressions doesn’t quite hold together. Having listened to it, I’ve got to agree Mr Yorke, it may not have been quite what you meant, but it does kind of feel like I’ve fallen out of bed from all the new imagery which the band has tried to capture.