Album review: Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
10th May 2016
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★★★★☆
Radiohead is, in 2016, something of a unique proposition – a music act that while being woven into the very fabric of our culture, continue to evolve.
They have always seemed like a band in flux, constantly at odds with expectations of their art and also their own understanding of who they are. All this whilst maintaining a singular identity.
They exist in a place where they are not just expected to release albums, but make grand artistic statements.
Ninth studio album A Moon Shaped Pool certainly achieves this, not just because of the masterful marketing in the lead up to its release on Sunday, but as a complete and singular musical work.
Again, as with every release since their debut, this is Radiohead-but-different. The key elements that make up their trademark sound are present – Thom Yorke’s haunting vocals and their blend of beauty and harshness.
A Moon Shaped Pool departs from the experimental angst of 2011’s The King Of Limbs letting glimmers of light in through the dark with at times almost folky moments as displayed on ‘Desert Island Disk’.
Throughout, as with the bands best work, this is not music that grabs you immediately but slowly seeps into your consciousness and consumes you – like a wave.
This albums triumphant strings and choir vocals, best displayed on jubilant opener ‘Burn The Witch’ and new depths of sound to the aural palette that the band has been playing with since OK Computer.

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