A moon shaped pool
| A moon shaped pool | |||||
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| Radiohead studio album | |||||
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Publication |
May 8, 2016 (download and streaming services) |
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admission |
2014–16 |
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| Label (s) | XL recordings | ||||
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Format (s) |
MP3 / WAV |
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Title (number) |
11 |
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running time |
52:31 |
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Studio (s) |
La Fabrique Studios, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France |
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A Moon Shaped Pool is the ninth studio album by the British band Radiohead . It was released on May 8, 2016 for download and on streaming services. Physical release followed on June 17th via Hostess Entertainment in Japan and via XL Recordings in the rest of the world. A "Special Edition" with additional artwork and two bonus tracks will be delivered in September.
After completing the tour for The King of Limbs in 2012 and a subsequent two-year hiatus, the band began working intermittently on A Moon Shaped Pool from 2014 onwards . Most of the recording was made in the La Fabrique studio in southern France, under the direction of long-term producer Nigel Godrich . Additional recordings were made in the RAK studios in London. The album brings out several pieces from the band's past, including the studio versions of "True Love Waits", "Burn The Witch", and "Present Tense", which have been part of the repertoire since 1995, 2000 and 2008 Band belonged. The album is characterized by the high use of strings and also includes the use of choirs. These classic arrangements were arranged by multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood and performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra.
There was no promotion for the album until a week before it was released. On May 1st, however, the band began to gradually delete their entire presence on the Internet until the single "Burn The Witch" and its accompanying video were finally released on May 3rd. The second single followed on May 6th, "Daydreaming", with a video clip shot by Paul Thomas Anderson . In the same month, a world tour of 13 dates began, in addition to several previously announced festival appearances.
Background and recording
During their tour for the previous album The King of Limbs , the band played several new tracks. Among them were "Ful Stop" and "Identikit", which would later make their way onto the new album. In 2012 the band recorded material on Third Man Records , the label founded by Jack White. It is still unclear what was recorded at these sessions.
After the tour, the band took a break, during which several of their members were busy with side projects. In 2013 Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich released Amok , the debut album of their band Atoms for Peace . In 2014 drummer Philip Selway released their second solo albums with Weatherhouse and singer Thom Yorke with Tomorrow's Modern Boxes . Meanwhile, Jonny Greenwood composed soundtracks such as B. that of Paul Thomas Anderson's film Inherent Vice .
The recordings for A Moon Shaped Pool began in September 2014 in the La Fabrique studio, near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in southern France. The work lasted until Christmas and was continued in March 2015. In November 2015, a tweet from composer Robert Ziegler, with whom Radiohead had already worked in connection with the previous album, showed how the band works with a string orchestra. The strings were arranged by Jonny Greenwood and performed by the London Contemporary Orchestra and recorded at RAK Studios in London. Clive Deamer, who in 2011 already contributed additional drum parts to the singles "The Daily Mail" and "Staircase" and the tour for The King of Limbs, returned and played drums in the track "Ful Stop".
Radiohead singer Thom Yorke gave a small concert on December 4, 2015 at Pathway to Paris, on the occasion of the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris . In this context he played three unannounced songs from the new album, namely "Present Tense", then known as "The Present Tense", "The Numbers" then known as "Silent Spring" and "Desert Island Disk". On Christmas Day the band released the new song "Specter", which was intended as the theme song for the James Bond film of the same name , but was ultimately rejected.
Many of the songs on A Moon Shaped Pool were part of the band's repertoire before their final studio version. Since 1995 "True Love Waits" has been played at concerts. In addition, a live version of the song was included in the live album I Might Be Wrong , which was released in 2001. Numerous versions of this title were attempted for OK Computer , as well as Kid A and Amnesiac , but no version that was satisfactory for the band could be found. It was similar with "Burn The Witch", which was recorded unsuccessfully in the sessions for Kid A, Hail to the Thief and In Rainbows and has been announced for years in the band's artwork and websites with snippets of text. "Present Tense" celebrated its acoustic premiere in the Thom Yorke solo set at the Latitude Festival 2009 in England.
Music and lyrics
A Moon Shaped Pool was seen as a musically rather calm, "less neurotic" album, which with its numerous references and influences remains true to the art rock line. The sound is characterized by the frequent use of piano and strings and gives the album its acoustic, relatively down-to-earth quality. Nevertheless, Radiohead's enthusiasm for experimentation can be seen in those places where the sound image sounds almost single-layered at first glance, but ultimately unfolds its orchestral and sophisticated qualities. In Spiegel Online it was read that the album was "pleasing and abstract at the same time, profound and pervaded by longing melodies that have been deprived for a long time. It will, however, anachronistic enough, take time to penetrate its complexity."
The album received special praise for the composition of the string and choir arrangements by Jonny Greenwood . These run through the album and are a defining element. So were z. For example, the "nervous beats" of the strings in "Burn The Witch" are called "string thunderstorms". The playing technique col legno used by the strings in "Burn The Witch" also received a lot of attention , which stipulates that the strings should not be struck lightly or bowed with the hair of the bow, but rather with its wooden rod, creating a striking, driving force Get quality. A Moon Shaped Pool dares hints and excursions into the terrain of jazz , folk and krautrock . The songs are in alphabetical order, which, according to Greenwood, has to do with the fact that this was the best sequence for these songs.
The lyrics are comparatively more intimate than is usually the case with Radiohead. Many critics see in them the processing of the separation of the singer of the band from his long-term partner after a 23-year relationship. They are about love and forgiveness, but sometimes, as with "The Numbers", even seem political. The online magazine Pitchfork interpreted this song as a comment on climate change and "Burn The Witch" as a warning against any kind of groupthink and unquestioned consensus. Typical Radiohead topics such as isolation, loneliness and a certain latent paranoia in view of the status quo can also be found on A Moon Shaped Pool.
Artwork
The artwork was done by Stanley Donwood , who has designed the artwork for the band since the 1995 album The Bends . It was made in part by the "strong, warm wind in the south of France". He worked in a barn where speakers were moved from the studio to draw inspiration from the band's sound when painting. In a leaflet distributed for physical publication, entitled "How to make your own A Moon Shaped Pool artwork in 66 easy steps", the artist describes his work process. This includes the step of "letting the wind and weather move the color for you."
Promotion and publication
In contrast to common practice, A Moon Shaped Pool was advertised only a week before its release, and that too in a mysterious way. On April 30, registered buyers of the Radiohead shop WASTE who lived in the UK received a leaflet in the mail with an extract of the text for "Burn The Witch" was printed, which includes the line "We know where you live". On May 1, Radiohead's website was deleted, which triggered a lot of media coverage.
The release of the single and the video "Burn The Witch", the first Radiohead song in five years, followed on May 3rd, initially only hinted at with teasers, but hours later. The video shows how a figure, who represents a kind of controller, is received in a supposedly idyllic village and gradually sees and feels the horrors that take place there. The style is kept cute and seemingly innocent thanks to the clay figures, whereby the video is also a clear reference to the film The Wicker Man and its apparent cuteness also contrasts with the music. On May 6th, another teaser was released showing the singer Thom Yorke wandering around in a parking garage. This turned out to be a scene from the next video, when hours later, "Daydreaming," the second single, with its video shot by Paul Thomas Anderson, was released. On this occasion, the band also announced the release date for the new album, namely May 8th at 8:00 p.m. German time. The album was first released digitally, as MP3 or WAV, and on streaming services. At the same time, the band announced the date for the physical release and the formats of these. The album is available on CD and vinyl LP. In addition to the ordinary LP, there was a white vinyl version limited to 9000 pressings. There is also a "Special Edition", which will be published in book form and will contain a 32-page artwork booklet, as well as the album on two LPs and CD, a second CD with two bonus songs and a piece of master tape from the band's archive.
In May, the band began their world tour in Amsterdam, which includes a total of 13 headline shows and takes the band through the Netherlands, France, England, the USA and Mexico. In addition, the band will perform at some festivals.
For the physical release of the album, the event "Live From A Moon Shaped Pool" took place in record stores around the world, in which a recording of the second London concert of the current tour and other music curated by Radiohead members was played via a live stream. Posters and a leaflet made by Stanley Donwood were distributed, and you could register for a competition to win characters from the video of "Burn The Witch", 35mm film copies of the "Daydreaming" video and Stanley Donwood signed screen prints.
Reviews
A Moon Shaped Pool was received positively by both the German and international music press.
Kevin Holtmann from Plattentests.de wrote: "With their ninth album, the British have undoubtedly added another milestone to their great discography. A tender, fragile work full of open questions, introspective and level-headed, demanding and yet trusting." The compositional work of Jonny Greenwood received a lot of praise, wrote Andreas Borcholte in Spiegel Online: "Greenwood's compositional handwriting is then also the clearest on" A Moon Shaped Pool ": The basic mood of the album is spherical and expansive, the London Contemporary Orchestra, an ensemble for new music, provides strings and sound surfaces for almost all pieces, which also ensure a softer Radiohead sound. "
There was contained criticism due to the rather gentle sound. Rolling Stone says: "What the record may be missing is a punch, some kind of sound idea that Radiohead re-established as one of the most important bands on the planet. At the turn of the millennium, the five Brits reorganized the tone and rhythm of pop music , They became the godparents of "Indietronic". The trailblazers have now become competitors for new music. " However, the conciliatory conclusion here is that this "does not mean that" A Moon Shaped Pool "will not grow any further than it does with the second listening session."
On Metacritic the album scored 88 out of 100 points.
Track list
- Burn The Witch - 3:41
- Daydreaming - 6:24
- Decks Dark - 4:41
- Desert Island Disk - 3:45
- Ful Stop - 6:07
- Glass Eyes - 2:53
- Identikit - 4:27
- The Numbers - 5:46
- Present Tense - 5:07
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief - 5:04
- True Love Waits - 4:43
Liner Notes
Written by Radiohead
Produced & mixed by Nigel Godrich
Engineered by Nigel Godrich and Sam Petts-Davies
Assistant engineer at La Fabrique Studio: Maxime LeGuil
Mastered by Robert C. Ludwig at Gateway Mastering
Additional drums on Ful Stop: Clive Deamer
London Contemporary Orchestra (Strings and Female Chorus) conducted by Hugh Brunt
Studio Crew: Tim, Plank, Graeme Stewart, Michelle Shearer
Thanks to Hervé and Isobel and all at La Fabrique
Artwork & design by Stanley Donwood & Doktor Tchock
In memory of Vic Godrich 1936-2015
Individual evidence
- ^ Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool. In: www.amoonshapedpool.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ^ Süddeutsche de GmbH, Munich Germany: New album? - Radiohead delete websites. In: Süddeutsche.de. Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ↑ Radiohead Did Record At Third Man, Jack White Confirms | Pitchfork. In: pitchfork.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ↑ DiS Meets Radiohead's Philip Selway: "If it means something to some people then that is success". Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ^ Radiohead Appear in New Studio Photos | Pitchfork. In: pitchfork.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ↑ Hear Radiohead's new album "A Moon Shaped Pool" at 11pm tonight on the FTW New Music Show | 91X FM. (No longer available online.) May 8, 2016, archived from the original on May 21, 2016 ; Retrieved July 1, 2016 (American English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Hear Radiohead's new album "A Moon Shaped Pool" at 11pm tonight on the FTW New Music Show | 91X FM. (No longer available online.) May 8, 2016, archived from the original on May 21, 2016 ; Retrieved July 1, 2016 (American English). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Thom Yorke Plays New Songs, Performs With Patti Smith and Flea at Pathway to Paris | Pitchfork. In: pitchfork.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ↑ David Steinitz: Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke : Radiohead's "Specter" would have been the better Bond song . In: sueddeutsche.de . ISSN 0174-4917 ( sueddeutsche.de [accessed on July 2, 2016]).
- ^ The 21-Year History of Radiohead's 'True Love Waits,' a Fan Favorite Two Decades in the Making. In: Vulture. Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ^ Radiohead Reconnect. April 26, 2012, accessed July 1, 2016 .
- ↑ Watch Radiohead's Sinister 'Burn the Witch' video. May 3, 2016, accessed July 1, 2016 .
- ↑ Watch Thom Yorke Perform a Brand New Live Solo Acoustic Song | Pitchfork. In: pitchfork.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ^ NDR: Album of the week: "A Moon Shaped Pool". In: www.ndr.de. Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ↑ Plate tests online team: Radiohead - A moon shaped pool - Plattentests.de. Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ↑ SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg Germany: New album from Radiohead: A dance on the abyss of the present. In: SPIEGEL ONLINE. Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ↑ Plate tests online team: Radiohead - A moon shaped pool - Plattentests.de. Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ^ Radiohead :: A Moon Shaped Pool. Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ↑ Plate tests online team: Radiohead - A moon shaped pool - Plattentests.de. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ↑ Jonny Greenwood, The First Time With… - BBC Radio 6 Music. In: BBC. Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ↑ Radiohead's A Moon Shaped Pool: The 5 Most Important Things To Know | Pitchfork. In: pitchfork.com. Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ^ Radiohead :: A Moon Shaped Pool. Retrieved July 1, 2016 .
- ↑ Radiohead: A Moon Shaped Pool Album Review | Pitchfork. In: pitchfork.com. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ^ "Burn the Witch" by Radiohead Review | Pitchfork. In: pitchfork.com. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ^ The new Radiohead album is a "work of art," says collaborator Stanley Donwood. In: DIY. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ^ In a room with Radiohead. In: TheTLS. Retrieved July 2, 2016 (UK English).
- ↑ Radiohead's 'A Moon Shaped Pool' is now on Spotify. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ↑ Radiohead Fans Receive Mysterious "Burn the Witch" Leaflets | Pitchfork. In: pitchfork.com. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ^ Süddeutsche de GmbH, Munich Germany: New album? - Radiohead delete websites. In: Süddeutsche.de. May 2, 2016, accessed August 26, 2020 .
- ↑ Radiohead delete tracks on the Internet, send postcards to fans. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ↑ View here: Radiohead video for the new song "Burn The Witch". May 3, 2016, accessed July 2, 2016 .
- ^ SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg Germany: New video from Radiohead: Horribly cute world made of plasticine. In: SPIEGEL ONLINE. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ↑ Video for the new Radiohead song "Daydreaming", album date is set! May 6, 2016, accessed July 2, 2016 .
- ↑ finest vinyl GmbH, Hamburg, Germany: Radiohead A Moon Shaped Pool on white vinyl. In: www.finestvinyl.de. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ^ Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool. In: www.amoonshapedpool.com. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ↑ New Radiohead album "A Moon Shaped Pool" available now. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ^ Radiohead Reveals 2016 World Tour Dates. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ↑ A MOON SHAPED POOL: Radiohead host events in record stores around the world. June 13, 2016, accessed July 2, 2016 .
- ^ Radiohead - Live From A Moon Shaped Pool. (No longer available online.) In: Live From A Moon Shaped Pool. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016 ; Retrieved July 2, 2016 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ A Moon Shaped Pool by Radiohead. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ↑ Plate tests online team: Radiohead - A moon shaped pool - Plattentests.de. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ↑ SPIEGEL ONLINE, Hamburg Germany: New album from Radiohead: A dance on the abyss of the present. In: SPIEGEL ONLINE. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ^ Radiohead :: A Moon Shaped Pool. Retrieved July 2, 2016 .
- ↑ http://www.metacritic.com/music/a-moon-shaped-pool/radiohead
