Atoms for Peace

Amok XL ***

Thom Yorke is so synonymous with Radiohead that it’s odd to think of him playing with anyone else. And yet here he is, out on his own for a second time following 2006’s The Eraser. Sort of. The band he put together to tour that record – producer and multi-instrumentalist Nigel Godrich, drummer Joey Waronker, percussionist Mauro Refosco and bassist Flea (yes, that Flea) – eventually became a fully-fledged outfit in their own right, and Amok is the result. Like much of Radiohead’s recent work, there’s a pervasive tension at work here, but also plenty of groove. Here we salute Flea, whose walloping low-end meshes perfectly with the eerie sonics and often frantic drum patterns. But any record fronted by Thom Yorke will rely heavily on his contribution, and while it’s always a joy to hear him sing, Amok is light on truly memorable songs.

Download:Amok, Default, Dropped